"The situation of the steel sector in Europe reminds us that we need to support our innovative industry and all the jobs that depend on it. Steel is a promising sector which has a real future in Europe but this future is being endangered by unfair competition. Member States and the European Commission have to respond quickly and firmly", said Françoise Grossetête MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament.

To address the urgent needs of the European steel sector, which supports 350,000 jobs, a number of concrete actions have to be taken. Antonio Tajani MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament, pointed out: "The most pressing issue is to protect our workers against Chinese dumping which is due to their huge overcapacity. This is why we are calling for the modernisation of our Trade Defence Instruments to tackle unfair competition", he said in reference to the EPP Group Declaration on the Steel Sector.

The EPP Group wants to assure that European steel has a bright future and contributes to the re-industrialisation of the European Union.

"EU climate and industrial policy should go hand in hand. Neither the environment nor our economy will benefit if the steel industry leaves Europe", said Krišjānis Kariņš MEP, EPP Group Spokesman in the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.