The steel industry has voiced strong opposition to the European Commission’s proposal to relax the “Buy European” rules that were originally designed to protect European manufacturing. Marie Jaroni, head of Thyssenkrupp Steel, told “Spiegel” that “Made with Europe” is not a substitute for “Made in Europe”. She warns that in a European economy that currently trades with more than 70 partner countries, such a shift would leave European rules “empty and ineffective”. In contrast, countries such as Canada, the United States, China, and India are already establishing local production rules that would give them a competitive edge while Europe watches from the sidelines.
The new draft, revealed within the Commission’s latest policy package, would reduce the steel requirement in public procurement to a minimum of 25 percent low‑CO₂ steel. Unlike other materials-such as aluminium or cement-there would be no explicit “Made in Europe” obligation for steel. The broader legislative initiative also contains quotas for strategic sectors including cement, batteries, solar technology, and the automotive industry. For instance, in concrete projects the Commission envisages that at least five percent of the material must be low‑CO₂ and produced within the EU. When the state purchases or subsidises cars, a minimum share of the vehicles must be “Made in Europe”.
The proposal has sparked criticism, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has suggested turning “Made in Europe” into “Made with Europe” which would grant equal recognition to all countries with which the EU has a trade agreement.