Post by SMS group

Strengthening Europe's economic independence and decarbonizing the steel industry are not separate challenges—they are inextricably linked. Industry can only drive this transformation through sustained investment and coordinated change. We were grateful for the kind invitation from North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Hendrik Wüst and Minister for Economics Mona Neubaur to discuss these interconnected priorities with EU Executive Vice President Stéphane Séjourné during the NRW State Festival in Brussels. During our exchange, our CTO Thomas Hansmann addressed the industrial perspective on this convergence: ▪️ Resilience and decarbonization demand technology-neutral implementation pathways that allow multiple solutions to coexist and compete. ▪️Funding programmes must be designed for scaling, not merely sustaining pilot projects and proof-of-concept initiatives. ▪️Competitive, modern plants strengthen Europe's industrial sovereignty and secure the steel structures that underpin our economy. For industrial transformation to materialize as real investment, we remain committed to advocating for political frameworks that deliver practical results—frameworks that embed scaling potential from day one, not as an afterthought. Photos 📸 : Land NRW/ Marcel Kusch