14 - 14 November 2024

The Poznań Economic Congress 2024 will take place on Thursday and Friday. The Congress brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to discuss pressing economic issues. The ECR Group will host two panels on Friday morning.

​Friday 15 November. Panel 1. 10:30 - 11:30. Interpretation PL/EN

The future of European steel industry: can regulatory policies reconcile climate action and competitiveness?

The European steel industry is an indispensable part of many of the EU’s key manufacturing value chains and stands for innovation, sought-after product solutions and high-quality jobs in Europe. Its companies are openly committed to contributing to the EU’s decarbonization and global climate goals.

However, the industry warns that it is in its worst crisis since the financial and economic crisis of 2009. This is due to the impact of global steel overcapacity and unfair trade, exacerbating the effects of low steel demand and high energy prices in the EU.

Steel production in the EU has shrunk by 30% since 2008 to 126 million tons in 2023. Restructuring and capacity reductions have led to the loss of nearly 100,000 jobs over the past 15 years. Capacity utilization has recently fallen to its lowest, non-viable level of around 60%. This trend continues.

The steel industry warns that without urgent action, it will be difficult to maintain a resilient and sustainable steel industry in most EU Member States.

Several other developments could affect the steel industry in the near future. The purpose of the panel is to stimulate the direction of these changes and their possible impact on the industry.

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Friday 15 November. Panel 2. 11:45 - 12:53. Interpretation PL/EN

Crisis of competitiveness of the European economy- can we reverse negative trends?

Experts will explore the growing divide between the EU and global competitors like the US and China, particularly in productivity, innovation, and emerging sectors such as AI. Central to the debate is Europe’s “impossible trinity”: the challenge of meeting social welfare, climate, and security targets without undermining economic stability. The panel will also discuss how to transform strategic visions into actionable policies, particularly in the services sector, which holds untapped potential to drive growth. Public engagement and societal support are another focus, as speakers will debate whether the EU’s current development model can maintain prosperity for its citizens. Finally, the conversation will address the recent Draghi’s Report on EU competitiveness, weighing its proposals and considering whether it offers real solutions or simply delays tough decisions.

Link to the Poznań Economic Congress website here.