EUROMETAL President Alexander M. Julius highlighted Europe’s growing needs in electrification, defence and robotics, noting that the continent imports many of the products it needs in these areas from foreign markets, leaving European industry dependent on external suppliers.
Julius said Europe’s electrification targets would drive greater demand for products used in areas such as drones, defence systems and robotics, noting that a significant share of these products is manufactured outside Europe.
Carbon costs affect export competitiveness
Julius also addressed the carbon costs faced by European producers in export markets. He said European companies incur additional costs due to emissions reduction policies, while they cannot compete on equal terms when exporting to countries where similar costs do not apply.
Julius noted that European producers bear carbon costs while manufacturers in some competing countries do not face comparable expenses, creating differences in competitive conditions. He said this could put pressure on Europe’s export capacity.
Julius said that if Europe wants to ensure fair competition, it should look beyond protective policies targeting raw material imports in the steel sector and also take external competition in finished products into account.
The EUROMETAL President noted that Europe needs to both protect its domestic market as an important sales area and strengthen production capacity in strategic products to reduce its dependence on external suppliers.
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