Outokumpu backs ‘Made in EU’ rules in Industrial Accelerator Act

Finnish stainless steel producer Outokumpu has welcomed the European Commission’s proposal for an Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), which aims to accelerate industrial investment, strengthen economic security and support decarbonisation in strategic sectors.

The legislative initiative responds to rising geopolitical pressures, growing dependencies in critical supply chains and concerns about declining industrial competitiveness in the EU.

Outokumpu said the proposal could help increase demand for low-carbon products and strengthen Europe’s industrial base, particularly in energy-intensive sectors such as steel. The company also expressed support for provisions introducing European preference in public procurement and “Made in EU” requirements.

According to Outokumpu, such measures would help ensure that public procurement supports low-carbon materials produced within the EU rather than encouraging imports with higher embedded emissions.

The company noted that a resilient domestic steel sector is essential for key industrial value chains including renewable energy infrastructure, hydrogen and electrification systems, transport and mobility, construction and defence.

Outokumpu also welcomed the inclusion of steel among the strategic sectors covered by the proposal.

At the same time, the company urged the European Commission to introduce additional measures, including an EU low-carbon steel label that would allow producers to demonstrate greenhouse gas performance and help buyers identify lower-emission materials.

The stainless steel producer also called for specific low-carbon criteria for stainless steel, reflecting differences in production processes and supply chain emissions compared with other steel products.

In addition, Outokumpu said the proposed “Made in EU” provisions should also apply to components containing steel. Without such rules, the company warned, higher-emission steel parts could be imported into Europe and assembled into finished products.

Source and Photo: Outokumpu