According to union figures, thousands of people took to the streets in Berlin and Saarland on Friday to support the future of the steel industry. “The steel industry must remain,” declared Jürgen Kerner, Deputy Chairman of IG Metall. “We want to produce green steel; our steelworks will become climate-neutral wherever possible.” Policymakers must consistently implement the measures pledged at the steel summit last November.
According to IG Metall, the union that called for the demonstration, around 1,700 workers from 40 German steel plants protested in Berlin and marched to a rally in front of the Federal Ministry of Economics. The union also stated that “several thousand” people had demonstrated in Völklingen, in the state of Saarland.
Image: Shutterstock
A spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Economics stated in Berlin that the industry is facing a “challenging economic situation.” “We explicitly acknowledge this.” The coalition agreement enshrines the goal of preserving and further developing the steel industry in Germany. To this end, “comprehensive measures in key areas of action”—such as energy prices—are being implemented.
At last year’s steel summit, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) advocated, among other things, for prioritizing domestic steel producers and welcomed the EU proposal for import restrictions on steel—particularly from China. The German steel industry is suffering from low-cost competition, primarily from Asia. Furthermore, tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump are hampering exports. At the same time, transitioning highly energy-intensive steel production to green energy is extremely costly.
“Our goal is clear,” SPD leader and Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil declared on Friday: “Steel production should take place in Germany and Europe—with secure jobs, in a climate-friendly manner, and competitively.”
Author: AFP translated by Blackout News
Sources: AFP press portal