On Monday, September 7, ESN (Electromechanics Synergy Network) participated in a major mobilization in Brussels organized by Eurometal, joining around one hundred industrialists to sound the alarm to the European Commission.
A delegation led by President Franco Felisa, with the participation of numerous network members, took to the streets parading with empty coffins: a strong and symbolic gesture to denounce the concrete risk of decline for the entire steel and metalworking supply chain, a sector marked by heavy job losses.
The data presented describe a situation of deep difficulty:
- Nearly one million jobs lost in the European Union since 2019.
- Over 104,000 redundancies in the automotive components sector alone.
- Major industrial groups forced to downsize facilities or relocate production.
At the root of this crisis is severe market distortion: on one hand, European companies face high costs associated with stringent EU environmental standards; on the other hand, foreign competitors flood the European market with finished and semi-finished products at significantly lower prices, free from the same sustainability rules. Until now, instruments like the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) protected only raw steel, leaving the entire downstream supply chain—which employs over 13 million people in Europe—exposed.
The position advanced in Brussels by the ESN network has always been clear: we are not asking for subsidies, but for fair competition conditions. The priorities discussed with European institutions aimed at:
- Extending customs protections and the CBAM to the entire production chain, including steel derivatives and downstream products.
- Prioritizing the defense of “Made in Europe,” to prevent the ecological transition from turning into an irreversible strategic dependency.
The mobilization and relentless work carried out on the front line by ESN and its representatives find extraordinary institutional confirmation today. Following today’s vote (September 15, 2026) in Strasbourg, the European Parliament adopted by a large majority (464 votes in favor) its position to significantly expand the CBAM to downstream products—welcoming the requests put forward by the supply chain—and to establish a robust temporary Decarbonization Fund.
This milestone represents a historic and decisive step for balancing climate objectives with the industrial competitiveness of our supply chain, and it is a source of great satisfaction: it is the tangible result of immense teamwork and continuous engagement that has seen us on the front line.
The battle fought in Brussels is not just about protecting individual companies, but about safeguarding European industrial know-how and the future of millions of families.