I would like to stress my support for resolution on the steel sector in the EU. The European Union is facing high unemployment and low economic growth. This results in a difficult social situation for citizens and it is our duty to change it. That is also why I am really glad that the amendment from the GUE/NGL which was mainly focused on the protection of the employees who have been dismissed, successfully passed through. The only way is to recover European industry, and the steel industry is one of its keystones. Therefore we must insist on steps that will help to raise industry to 20% of GDP by 2020. 

One of the necessary steps is to ensure a level playing field in the negotiation of international treaties like TTIP. Citizens in other parts of the world deserve as high social and environmental standards as we have in the European Union. Another important issue is that the steel industry is one of the energy-intensive sectors, so that competitiveness very much depends on energy prices. We must have this in mind when we form energy policy, and ensure that energy will be produced for affordable prices. I consider the resolution important and its aims should be launched into policies of the European Union.