19
May
2026
Watch
Research Fund for Coal and Steel: research programme and multiannual technical and financial guidelines (A10-0130/2026 - Borys Budka)
Mr President, I voted in favour of this report because I believe that the research fund for coal and steel can support the competitiveness of the European steel industry, innovation and the involvement of SMEs, universities and industry in concrete research projects. This fund is one of the few European instruments that directly support the development of industrial technologies, the modernisation of production and the preservation of jobs for Europe to produce competitive steel here, not to import it from outside the EU. In a world where China and other powers are investing heavily in industry and advanced technologies, Europe cannot afford to abandon steel research. There is no strategic autonomy without European industry, and without research and innovation we will become dependent on external actors. Steel research is not an expense but an investment in Europe's economic and strategic strength. However, I do not support the ideological direction of the report with regard to Green Deal and the forced energy transition, which is already negatively affecting European industry, jobs and energy security. Given that it is not enough, Europe needs energy addition, not an energy transition that reduces its current ability to produce energy before building viable alternatives.