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According to Politico, the European Parliament is attempting to incorporate a clause banning Russian steel imports into the EU's latest round of steel safeguard measures; this move could complicate negotiations among the various EU institutions.
In January of this year, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) proposed amendments to the draft revisions of the steel safeguard measures, aiming to use this mechanism to comprehensively block Russian steel exports from entering the EU. 36F145 Non oriented magnetic steel, Previous rounds of sanctions failed to fully cover this sector, and implementing such a ban through the formal sanctions framework would require the unanimous consent of all 27 EU member states.
Currently, the EU's sanctions against Russia already restrict the import of most steel products—particularly basic steel materials—yet semi-finished products remain permitted to enter the Union. Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Italy advocate for keeping this supply channel open, arguing that some domestic steel manufacturers currently lack alternative sources of supply.
NLMK, Russia's largest steel producer, holds sheet production assets in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy. 36F145 Non oriented magnetic steel, The Evraz Group previously owned Vitkovice Steel in the Czech Republic; however, that company was sold to India's Jindal Steel International in 2015, with the latter completing the acquisition of a 100% equity stake last January.
Karin Karlsbro, the European Parliament's chief negotiator, hopes that the three major EU institutions can launch negotiations before February 24—the fourth anniversary of the full-scale escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. With only approximately four months remaining until the expiration of current steel safeguard measures, the window for negotiations is tight, and a specific timetable has yet to be established.
Last October, the European Commission proposed nearly halving the tariff-free import quotas for steel, as well as imposing a 50% tariff on imports exceeding these quotas.
However, neither the European Commission's original proposal nor the European Council's draft included provisions banning the import of Russian steel. For such a ban to ultimately take effect, a compromise must be reached among the three institutions: the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the European Council.
Karlsbro stated that she is actively seeking support from more member states for the Parliament's position. An anonymous official from a member state suggested that this approach is strategically advantageous, as a legislative path—compared to sanctions—could yield a more enduring policy instrument.
At the same time, some observers suggest that should a peace agreement regarding the situation in Ukraine materialize in the future, a political will to weaken or lift sanctions against Russia could emerge within the EU.
Even if the ban were to be approved during inter-institutional negotiations, it could still face legal challenges—similar to the obstacles encountered as the EU gradually sought to wean itself off Russian natural gas—namely, a lack of sufficient support from member states.
Against the backdrop of global oversupply and the imposition of a 50% U.S. tariff on steel, the European Union urgently needs to swiftly update its steel safeguard mechanisms and plans to enact comprehensive, long-term legislation. Typically, the European Parliament does not directly participate in sanctions-related decision-making; however, the current legislative process provides it with a channel to push for a ban on Russian steel imports.
Given the urgency of the decision-making timeline, some member states may be inclined to support such a ban in exchange for the rapid adoption of new safeguard measures—even if this entails setting aside the concerns of certain nations that rely on Russian steel slabs for their supply. As of now, the Council of the European Union has not yet officially adjusted its stance; however, once trilateral negotiations commence, the European Parliament intends to independently advance its policy agenda. 36F145 Non oriented magnetic steel, A key obstacle in this process remains the argument that "certain industrial sectors rely on Russian semi-finished products in a manner that is difficult to substitute."
According to calculations by the GMK Center—based on Eurostat data—the EU imported 4.55 million tonnes of steel raw materials of Russian origin during the period from January to November 2025 (a year-on-year decrease of 9.8%). Semi-finished products accounted for the largest share of these imports, totaling 3.19 million tonnes during the same period (a year-on-year increase of 9.9%). The primary consuming nations include Belgium, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Denmark.
