National steel summit in Salzgitter on 16 November to weigh Germany's steel future

What the summit will cover

The national steel summit takes place on Monday, 16 November 2026 at the Salzgitter plant of the steelmaker of the same name. Politicians, company representatives and trade unionists plan to discuss how steel can be produced in a climate-neutral way and which political conditions will support competitiveness, investment and employment. Ministers from the eleven federal states with steel sites, grouped as the Stahl-Allianz, are expected, along with the steel industry association Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl, IG Metall and industry representatives. Lower Saxony's minister-president Olaf Lies (SPD), North Rhine-Westphalia's minister-president Hendrik Wüst (CDU) and IG Metall deputy chair Jürgen Kerner are set to attend, and federal economy minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) will give a speech. The participants also plan to hand Reiche a joint position paper setting out their expectations for future industrial and steel policy.

The event is not the first of its kind. A year earlier, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) invited minister-presidents, companies and employee representatives to the Chancellery for a similar exchange.

Unions and industry press for implementation

IG Metall deputy chair Jürgen Kerner told dpa ahead of the summit that many measures discussed a year ago have not been implemented sufficiently, and he criticised the industrial electricity price in its current form. He argues that analysing the challenges once more is no longer enough, and that the summit must focus on action.

“The workforce expects clear signals and firm commitments for competitive energy prices, effective protection against unfair international competition and reliable conditions for investment in the future of the sites.”

Kerner also wants lead markets for green steel to be put into practice, and he said the union will keep demanding this loudly. Kerstin Maria Rippel, managing director of the Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl, told dpa that the German steel industry remains under enormous pressure from uncompetitive energy prices, weak demand and global overcapacity. Her association wants concrete decisions, for example to strengthen competitiveness.

“The national steel summit must not stop at another reaffirmation of its commitment to the steel industry.”

Saarland seeks protection for early movers

Saarland has an additional demand beyond stable sales markets, competitive energy prices and protection from unfair competition: it wants the reform of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) addressed. The European Commission plans to weaken this central climate protection instrument, and Reiche also presses for changes. Saar economy minister Jürgen Barke (SPD) plans to take a position in a speech to around 350 participants. Stahl-Holding-Saar is investing 4.6 billion euros in converting its steel production at Dillingen and Völklingen, and federal and state governments back the project with 2.6 billion euros.

“Anyone who invests billions in the future must be able to rely on applicable law and stable framework conditions.”

Barke warned that changing the rules mid-course could disadvantage the first movers that invested early in cleaner production plants, and he said this would risk a significant loss of trust in the business location. He also criticised that the federal government agreed with the Commission to stretch the rise in CO2 prices without first discussing compensation with the innovation leaders, calling it poor craftsmanship. He argues that possible disadvantages from slower CO2 price increases need to be compensated.

Stahl-Holding-Saar investment (Dillingen and Völklingen)4.6

Federal and state support2.6

Stahl-Holding-Saar investment (Dillingen and Völklingen)

4.6 EUR billion

Federal and state support

2.6 EUR billion

Data from the article text

Workers and state ministers ahead of the summit

More than 1,000 steelworkers from Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt plan to demonstrate before the summit for the preservation of steel jobs in Germany. Mona Neubaur (Greens), North Rhine-Westphalia's economy minister, is travelling to Salzgitter with clear expectations. She told dpa that what is needed are competitive energy prices, reliable conditions for the market ramp-up of climate-friendly steel and effective protection against unfair trade practices. Her steel companies need decisions rather than new promises, she said.