MEP Lukas Mandl (PPE) has asked the European Commission to outline measures to secure the supply of grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) for EU industries, strengthen domestic production capacity, and boost research and innovation in the sector. The written question, submitted on 18 June 2026, highlights that EU demand for GOES has surged due to the expansion of renewable energy sources, particularly photovoltaic plants, and the resulting need for transformers and grid infrastructure. Mandl warns that the EU market is too uncompetitive and overly dependent on imports from other regions.
The question contains three concrete asks. First, Mandl requests details on planned import measures to ensure reliable access to high-quality GOES from trustworthy markets. Second, he asks what initiatives the Commission is taking to enhance the competitiveness and production capacity of the EU's electrical steel industry, aiming to reduce strategic dependencies amid rising demand from the energy transition, grid expansion, and transformer manufacturing. Third, he seeks information on concrete steps to promote research, innovation, and quality improvements so that EU producers can meet the high technical requirements of modern, efficient transformers in the future.
Mandl's question signals a push for greater EU self-sufficiency in a critical material for the energy transition. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks, and its answer will indicate the direction of EU policy on GOES supply security and industrial competitiveness. The issue affects EU electrical steel producers, transformer manufacturers, renewable energy developers, and grid operators, all of whom rely on stable GOES availability.