Brussels Edition

EU Aims to Sharpen Its Competitive Edge

The EU wants to boost competitiveness, but how to go about it remains a challenge
A rolling mill at the ArcelorMittal Ghent steel plant in BelgiumPhotographer: Valeria Mongelli/Bloomberg

Welcome to the Brussels Edition. I’m John Ainger, Bloomberg climate and energy reporter, bringing you the latest from the EU. Make sure you’re signed up.

Two days into their new jobs in late 2024, two of Europe’s top commissioners — Teresa Ribera and Stephane Sejourne — visited the cacophonous steelworks in Ghent owned by ArcelorMittal. Though drowned out by the clangs of metal and the roar of blast furnaces, their message came through: the EU would fight to keep its essential heavy industries.