Saarland Minister Calls for Compensation for Green Steel Transition

Saarland Economic Minister Jürgen Barke (SPD) has asked the German federal government and the European Commission to provide compensation to steel companies that have faced delays while moving to green‑steel production. He said, "Es muss eine Entschädigung für die Verzögerung auf der Zeitachse an die ersten Unternehmen geleistet werden, die sich voll an die Regeln und Vorgaben gehalten haben." Barke urges swift decisions on the upcoming revision of the EU Emissions Trading System so that firms have certainty in the carbon‑certificate market.

State Premier Anke Rehlinger also wrote to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, warning that the pending EU ETS revision could jeopardise the multi‑billion‑euro transformation of the Saarland steel sector into environmentally sustainable production. Both politicians stress that no backsliding on climate policy should occur while the industry adapts.