12 March 2026 | Norrsken House, Brussels
EPICO hosted the second session of its workshop series on the Industrial Acceleration Act, focusing on the development of EU lead markets for steel. Held shortly after the Act’s presentation on 4 March, the session provided a timely platform to assess its implications for the steel sector. The discussion brought together stakeholders from across the value chain to examine how the IAA can contribute to a more competitive and low-carbon European industry. While broadly recognised as an important step towards modernisation, the exchange underscored the need to translate the Act’s objectives into concrete measures tailored to the steel sector.
The workshop highlighted several challenges that may limit the IAA's impact. Participants pointed to the absence of steel-specific provisions as a significant gap, creating uncertainty around the definition and promotion of low-carbon steel, particularly in public procurement. Concerns were also raised about the current level of sustainable procurement quotas, which were widely considered insufficient to generate meaningful demand. At the same time, the discussion emphasised the potential of the Act to streamline permitting processes, accelerate digitalisation, and support the development of industrial acceleration areas, thereby enabling more efficient and scalable deployment of clean steel production.
Key takeaways:
- Policy uncertainty: Delays in finalizing the steel label are eroding investor confidence and missing a critical opportunity, despite substantial groundwork already being in place.
- Fragmentation risk: The emergence of multiple labels (e.g., ESPR, CPR) risks increasing complexity and confusion, rather than providing a clear, unified market signal.
- Insufficient ambition: Current procurement quotas are too modest to generate meaningful demand or enable the scale-up of low-carbon steel.
- Lead market design: Further discussed potential label methodology, including scope, system boundaries, and product differentiation.
- Permitting and acceleration areas: The framework for Industrial Manufacturing Acceleration Areas lacks clarity, coordination, and operational detail, particularly regarding permitting processes.