Slovenia takes steps to protect its steel industry amid EU changes
- Slovenia is participating in a public consultation initiated by the European Commission to gather the views of local steel industry representatives.
- France has proposed its own initiative concerning the protection of the steel industry, which Slovenia is not part of due to ongoing data collection.
- This consultation process aims to balance the interests of steel producers and consumers with the objective of creating effective protection against unfair competition.
In a bid to gather information regarding the domestic steel industry, Slovenia has engaged in a public consultation process initiated by the European Commission. This initiative began in July 2025 as part of a broader effort to draft new regulations aimed at protecting the European steel sector, which has suffered significantly due to American tariffs imposed on imports. As part of this ongoing consultation, Slovenia is reaching out to local steel industry representatives to collect their views and interests concerning protective measures. France has introduced an unofficial initiative seeking the support of other EU member states; however, Slovenia is not currently involved in this effort. This divergence is primarily due to Slovenia's unfinished data gathering phase, restricting it from defining its position on France’s proposals tailored for the steel sector. The Slovenian Ministry of Economy, Tourism, and Sport has stated that without adequate data, they are unable to advocate strongly for the steel industry or position themselves favorably regarding the initiatives proposed by France and its allies. The need for regulatory reform in the steel industry arises amid challenges brought on by international competition, particularly from third countries perceived as offering unfair advantages. The European Commission aims to ensure that any forthcoming legislation addresses the concerns of both steel manufacturers and consumers in related sectors. Slovenia's Ministry has pledged to formulate a position that balances the interests of the local steel sector and those who rely on steel products for their operations. Last year, Slovenian companies exported substantial volumes of steel and aluminum products valued at approximately 91.3 million euros and 32.5 million euros respectively to the United States. These figures highlight the significance of the steel industry to Slovenia's economy, underscoring Slovenia's motivation to engage constructively in the ongoing public consultation process and its mandated legislative proposals. The ministry anticipates that by carefully collecting responses from national stakeholders, they can create comprehensive positions that reflect and defend local industry interests amid evolving regulatory frameworks.