Greek MEP Farandouris urges EU metal production for strategic autonomy

Greek MEP Nikos Farandouris addressed the European Metals Annual Conference in Brussels, a year after the EU adopted its Steel and Metals Action Plan. He argued that the Union’s strategic autonomy cannot be achieved without a competitive European metallurgy sector and warned that high energy prices are driving metal production out of Europe. “Without European metals there is no European defence. And without a competitive European metallurgy, strategic autonomy will remain a fantasy,” he said.

Farandouris highlighted the loss of factories also means loss of expertise, skilled staff and value‑chain capabilities that are hard to recover. He called for a new EU industrial policy to lower energy costs, boost innovation and create high‑quality, well‑paid jobs, especially in regions such as Greece. He noted that securing European metal output would benefit defence, electric‑vehicle manufacturing, renewable‑energy technologies and digital infrastructure.