German steel sector reacts to “AccelerateEU”, urges lower energy prices

The European Commission has presented its “AccelerateEU” package aimed at stabilising energy prices in the coming years. The measures include a temporary state aid framework targeting sectors particularly affected by high energy costs.

Commenting on the initiative, Kerstin Maria Rippel, Director General of the German Steel Federation (Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl), welcomed the Commission’s approach but stressed the need for effective implementation.

“We welcome that the European Commission is proposing concrete measures to reduce energy prices,” she said, pointing to persistently high gas and electricity costs, further exacerbated by the impact of the Iran conflict.

Rippel emphasized that the design of the proposed measures will be decisive. In particular, she called for the planned Temporary Iran Energy Crisis Framework to be used “consistently” to support energy-intensive industries such as steel.

She also underlined the need for better coordination of existing instruments, including electricity price compensation and industrial power price mechanisms, which should be fully combinable and applicable to total electricity consumption.

In addition, Rippel welcomed the Commission’s focus on accelerating the hydrogen economy. The proposed adjustment of production criteria for green hydrogen was described as a “positive signal,” highlighting the need for greater flexibility and reduced bureaucracy during the early market ramp-up phase.

Source: WV Stahl, Photo: Fotolia