SPD leader insists on steel summit

Berlin – SPD leader Lars Klingbeil is pushing for a summit to strengthen Germany as a steel industry. "We as the SPD want a steel summit soon," the finance minister told the newspapers of the Funke media group (Sunday editions). "We must discuss with company CEOs and works councils how we can strengthen the steel industry – for example, through lower energy prices." Furthermore, a reasonable solution to the tariff dispute with the US must be found for steel, Klingbeil said. "Low tariffs or high quotas are sensible. The Americans depend on our quality steel – for example, in aircraft construction." The US currently imposes a 50 percent import tariff on steel. The Vice Chancellor criticized the tariff deal that EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen concluded with US President Donald Trump. One has to ask how it is possible that the European Union, with 27 states and 450 million citizens, "ends up so weak," he said. "I hope that we develop European strength and no longer sit at the kids' table." He was very grateful to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) "for how he ensures that Europeans have a say in issues of war and peace," Klingbeil added. "Germany must lead the way; Germany must be a leading European power." Klingbeil called on the states to contribute financially to relieving the burden on over-indebted municipalities. "I'm working in my ministry to ensure that we find reasonable solutions for municipal debts," Klingbeil told the RND. "We want to support the municipalities. But it's important that the states also do their part." It is crucial to strengthen local capacity for action. "Mayors from the Ruhr region tell me that it is precisely these old debts that are robbing them of room for maneuver," Klingbeil said. "Too much in our country has been ruined by austerity measures."