On the 20th anniversary of ArcelorMittal Poland, ArcelorMittal Europe CEO Geert Van Poelvoorde calls for a firm action plan for steel
On the 20th anniversary of ArcelorMittal Poland, ArcelorMittal Europe CEO Geert Van Poelvoorde calls for European Union support and a firm action plan for steel to keep steelmaking alive in Europe. Since Mittal Steel acquired Polskie Huty Stali in 2004, the business has been transformed through significant investment, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 42%, dust emissions by 90%, and energy consumption by 40%.
Van Poelvoorde emphasizes the intense pressure on European steelmakers due to high costs and cheap imports. He urges the Polish government's support during its upcoming European Council Presidency, particularly in finalizing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) legislation. The CEO highlights the critical nature of the first six months of 2025 in defining the Commission's steel and metals action plan and the Clean Industrial Deal.
Van Poelvoorde expresses optimism about recent European Commissioner appointments, particularly the proposed Commissioner for Prosperity and Industrial Policy's focus on developing a steel and metals action plan. He stresses the importance of a strong steel industry for Europe's economic power and warns against decarbonizing through de-industrialization.
Nel 20° anniversario di ArcelorMittal Poland, il CEO di ArcelorMittal Europa Geert Van Poelvoorde chiede il supporto dell'Unione Europea e un piano d'azione fermo per l'acciaio per mantenere viva la produzione di acciaio in Europa. Dalla acquisizione di Polskie Huty Stali da parte di Mittal Steel nel 2004, l'azienda è stata trasformata attraverso investimenti significativi, riducendo le emissioni di anidride carbonica del 42%, le emissioni di polveri del 90% e il consumo di energia del 40%.
Van Poelvoorde sottolinea l'intensa pressione sui produttori di acciaio europei a causa dei costi elevati e delle importazioni a basso costo. Esorta il governo polacco a fornire supporto durante la prossima presidenza del Consiglio europeo, in particolare per finalizzare la legislazione sul Meccanismo di aggiustamento del carbonio alle frontiere (CBAM). Il CEO evidenzia la natura critica dei primi sei mesi del 2025 nel definire il piano d'azione dell'acciaio e dei metalli della Commissione e il Clean Industrial Deal.
Van Poelvoorde esprime ottimismo riguardo alle recenti nomine dei Commissari europei, in particolare per il focus del Commissario proposto per la Prosperità e la Politica Industriale nello sviluppare un piano d'azione per l'acciaio e i metalli. Sottolinea l'importanza di una forte industria dell'acciaio per il potere economico dell'Europa e avverte contro la decarbonizzazione attraverso la deindustrializzazione.
En el 20° aniversario de ArcelorMittal Poland, el CEO de ArcelorMittal Europa Geert Van Poelvoorde pide apoyo a la Unión Europea y un plan de acción firme para el acero para mantener viva la producción de acero en Europa. Desde que Mittal Steel adquirió Polskie Huty Stali en 2004, el negocio ha sido transformado a través de una inversión significativa, reduciendo las emisiones de dióxido de carbono en un 42%, las emisiones de polvo en un 90% y el consumo de energía en un 40%.
Van Poelvoorde enfatiza la intensa presión sobre los productores de acero europeos debido a los altos costos y las importaciones baratas. Insta al apoyo del gobierno polaco durante su próxima presidencia del Consejo Europeo, particularmente en la finalización de la legislación sobre el Mecanismo de Ajuste Fronterizo de Carbono (CBAM). El CEO destaca la naturaleza crítica de los primeros seis meses de 2025 para definir el plan de acción de acero y metales de la Comisión y el Clean Industrial Deal.
Van Poelvoorde expresa optimismo por los recientes nombramientos de comisionados europeos, especialmente por el enfoque del comisionado propuesto para la Prosperidad y la Política Industrial en desarrollar un plan de acción para el acero y metales. Subraya la importancia de una fuerte industria del acero para el poder económico de Europa y advierte contra la descarbonización a través de la desindustrialización.
아르셀로미탈 폴란드 20주년을 맞아 아르셀로미탈 유럽 CEO Geert Van Poelvoorde는 유럽에서 제철업체를 살리기 위한 유럽연합의 지원과 강력한 철강 행동 계획을 촉구합니다. 2004년 미탈 스틸이 폴란스 푸티 스탈리를 인수한 이후, 이 비즈니스는 상당한 투자를 통해 변모했으며, 이산화탄소 배출량을 42% 감소시키고, 먼지 배출량을 90%, 에너지 소비를 40% 줄였습니다.
Van Poelvoorde는 높은 비용과 저렴한 수입으로 인한 유럽 제철업체에 대한 강한 압박을 강조합니다. 그는 다음 유럽 이사회 의장국 직무를 수행하는 동안 폴란드 정부의 지원을 촉구하며, 특히 탄소 국경 조정 메커니즘(CBAM) 법안을 마무리하는 데 주목합니다. CEO는 2025년 상반기가 위원회의 철강 및 금속 행동 계획과 청정 산업 협약을 정의하는 데 있어 결정적인 시점이라고 강조합니다.
Van Poelvoorde는 최근 유럽 위원회 임명에 대해 낙관적인 입장을 밝히며, 특히 제철 및 금속 행동 계획 개발에 집중하는 Prosperity 및 산업 정책 담당 위원이라는 제안된 위원에 대해 주목합니다. 그는 유럽의 경제력에 대한 강력한 철강 산업의 중요성을 강조하며, 탈탄소화가 산업 탈피로 이어지지 않도록 주의할 것을 경고합니다.
À l'occasion du 20e anniversaire d'ArcelorMittal Pologne, le PDG d'ArcelorMittal Europe, Geert Van Poelvoorde, appelle au soutien de l'Union Européenne et à un plan d'action ferme pour l'acier afin de maintenir la production d'acier en vie en Europe. Depuis que Mittal Steel a acquis Polskie Huty Stali en 2004, l'entreprise a été transformée grâce à des investissements significatifs, réduisant les émissions de dioxyde de carbone de 42%, les émissions de poussière de 90% et la consommation d'énergie de 40%.
Van Poelvoorde souligne la pression intense sur les sidérurgistes européens en raison des coûts élevés et des importations peu coûteuses. Il appelle au soutien du gouvernement polonais durant sa prochaine présidence du Conseil Européen, en particulier pour finaliser la législation sur le Mécanisme d'Ajustement Carboné aux Frontières (CBAM). Le PDG met en évidence le caractère critique des six premiers mois de 2025 pour définir le plan d'action de la Commission sur l'acier et les métaux ainsi que le Clean Industrial Deal.
Van Poelvoorde exprime son optimisme quant aux récentes nominations de commissaires européens, en particulier le focus du commissaire proposé sur la prospérité et la politique industrielle concernant l'élaboration d'un plan d'action pour l'acier et les métaux. Il souligne l'importance d'une industrie sidérurgique forte pour la puissance économique de l'Europe et met en garde contre la décarbonisation par déindustrialisation.
Am 20. Jahrestag von ArcelorMittal Polen fordert der CEO von ArcelorMittal Europa Geert Van Poelvoorde die Unterstützung der Europäischen Union sowie einen konkreten Aktionsplan für Stahl, um die Stahlproduktion in Europa am Leben zu erhalten. Seit Mittal Steel 2004 Polskie Huty Stali übernommen hat, wurde das Unternehmen durch erhebliche Investitionen umgestaltet, wodurch die CO2-Emissionen um 42%, die Staubemissionen um 90% und der Energieverbrauch um 40% gesenkt werden konnten.
Van Poelvoorde hebt den starken Druck auf die europäischen Stahlhersteller aufgrund hoher Kosten und billiger Importe hervor. Er appelliert an die polnische Regierung um Unterstützung während ihrer bevorstehenden EU-Ratspräsidentschaft, insbesondere bei der Finalisierung der Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Gesetzgebung. Der CEO betont die entscheidende Bedeutung der ersten sechs Monate 2025 für die Entwicklung des Stahl- und Metallaktionsplans der Kommission und des Clean Industrial Deal.
Van Poelvoorde äußert Optimismus über die jüngsten Ernennungen europäischer Kommissare, insbesondere den Fokus des vorgeschlagenen Kommissars für Wohlstand und Industriepolitik auf die Entwicklung eines Stahl- und Metallaktionsplans. Er betont die Wichtigkeit einer starken Stahlindustrie für die wirtschaftliche Kraft Europas und warnt vor der Dekarbonisierung durch Deindustrialisierung.
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30th September 2024, 15:45 CET
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of ArcelorMittal Poland, ArcelorMittal Europe CEO Geert Van Poelvoorde calls for European Union support for emergency trade measures, and a firm action plan for steel, to keep steelmaking alive in Europe
It is 20 years since Mittal Steel acquired Polskie Huty Stali in 2004, when the business was put up for privatisation by the Polish government. Since then, the business has been transformed and modernised through significant investment. Today in Poland, ArcelorMittal has Europe’s most modern hot rolling mill, in Kraków; the heavy section mill in Dąbrowa Górnicza is in the elite group of mills able to produce 120-metre-long rail. Carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced by 42 percent, dust emissions by 90 percent, and energy consumption by 40 percent. According to the latest report from the Warsaw School of Economics, in 2023 ArcelorMittal was the second largest foreign investor in Poland. The company’s achievements gain even more importance at a time when many steel companies in the central and eastern Europe region are facing serious challenges concerning their future.
Speaking at the 20th anniversary celebrations in Sosnowiec, Poland, Geert Van Poelvoorde, CEO ArcelorMittal Europe said: “As in the rest of Europe today, Polish steelmakers are under intense pressure, due to the high costs of making steel in Europe and the volume of subsidised, cheap imports flooding the market. As a result, the European steel industry will continue to shrink. But with the right policies in place to support us, we can thrive - and our industry can continue to be the foundation of European industry - in a new era.”
Mr Van Poelvoorde called on the Polish government for its support as it prepares to hold the Presidency of the European Council. This will be a critical time for determining the future of European steel, as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) legislation is finalised, which will determine European steelmakers’ ability to continue to produce steel competitively while also being able to make the investments needed to decarbonise.
“With Poland due to hold the presidency of the European Council for the first half of next year, I am sure that we can count on Poland’s support to translate the Commission’s ambitions into an effective policy to support the industry’s decarbonisation, and to introduce much-needed emergency trade measures for the steel sector. Next year, more specifically the first six months of 2025, will be crucial to define the Commission’s steel and metals action plan, the Clean Industrial Deal and to bring the measures necessary to create the level playing field that we need for Europe, on track. It is not an exaggeration to say that the decisions that Europe and its member states will take next year, will decide on the future size of European industry and the steel industry”.
Mr Van Poelvoorde also spoke positively about the recently proposed European Commissioner appointments, and what they mean for the industry:
“The mission of the proposed Commissioner for Prosperity and Industrial Policy, Mr. Stephane Séjourné, includes the development of a steel and metals action plan. This has never happened before, and we look forward to seeing the detailed plan to understand how it will support us. I am happy to hear that our cries for a new Industrial Deal for Europe seem to have been listened to and I will continue to advocate for strong, faster action to safeguard our industry against the threats it faces.
Indeed, there were many positive signs in the new European Commissioner nominations made last week. But these remain words on the page – an ambitious wish-list written at the start of a new mandate”.
Closing his speech, Mr Van Poelvoorde said that in light of the growth of protectionism around the world, and the world order coming under pressure, Europe has to define which role it wants to play in the future. “The understanding is now increasing that remaining an economic powerhouse is impossible without a strong industry and specifically, a strong steel industry. Decarbonising by de-industrialising is not a solution for Europe, not for the world and certainly not for the climate and our planet”.
Ends
About ArcelorMittal:
ArcelorMittal is one of the world’s leading integrated steel and mining companies with a presence in 60 countries and primary steelmaking operations in 15 countries. It is the largest steel producer in Europe, among the largest in the Americas, and has a growing presence in Asia through its joint venture AM/NS India. ArcelorMittal sells its products to a diverse range of customers including the automotive, engineering, construction and machinery industries, and in 2023 generated revenues of
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