Statement on Defence Procurement: Simplyfying Defence and Sensitive Security Procurement
16 February 2026 | The German Steel Association (Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl) welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to reform defence and security procurement. A strong and resilient industrial base is a core prerequisite for defence capability and strategic autonomy; the steel industry is an indispensable pillar of this base.
Steel — particularly heavy plate and high-grade specialty steels — is a key material for military systems as well as security-relevant infrastructure. The loss of European production capacities would increase dependencies on third countries, undermine the EU’s ability to act and thereby jeopardize industrial sovereignty.
The reform should therefore be explicitly geared towards strengthening European industrial value creation. The binding consideration of EU content, resilience and security of supply, as well as the recognition of steel as a strategic upstream product, are essential in this regard.
At the same time, defence procurement can function as a lead market for low-emission steel. Binding sustainability criteria in procurement creates demand, secure investments and align security and climate objectives.
Global overcapacities, dumping practices and distortive imports from third countries are placing considerable pressure on the European steel industry. Trade defence, industrial policy and procurement policy must therefore be conceived and implemented in a coherent manner.
Our key points are:
- safeguarding and strategically strengthening European industrial value creation.
- reducing strategic dependencies on third countries.
- sustainably strengthening the resilience of Europe’s security and defence architecture.
- establishing lead markets for increasingly low-emission steel Made in EU.
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