MEP Jessica Polfjärd (PPE) has asked the European Commission to ensure a single, coordinated definition of 'low-carbon steel' across two major EU legislative files, warning that leaving the definition to future delegated acts could create legal uncertainty and undermine the bloc's decarbonisation goals. The question, submitted on 8 July 2026, targets the Industrial Accelerator Act and the proposed revision of CO2 standards for cars and vans, both of which reference low-carbon steel without defining it, instead delegating the task to future delegated acts under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation.
first, that the Commission commit to a single definition applicable to both laws, and second, that it specify a timeline for delivering that definition. The MEP also asks how the Commission will avoid the simultaneous application of two different definitions, which could fragment the internal market and create compliance costs for steel producers and downstream users such as the automotive industry.
The question reflects a broader concern among industry stakeholders about regulatory coherence. Steelmakers, who are investing in low-carbon production technologies, have called for clear and stable rules to guide investment decisions. The automotive sector, a major steel consumer, also needs predictability to plan its supply chains. A fragmented definition could lead to competitive distortions, with some producers benefiting from looser standards while others face stricter requirements.
Under European Parliament rules, the Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the executive intends to harmonise the definition or allow separate approaches, and will be closely watched by the steel and automotive industries as well as environmental NGOs. Polfjärd, a Swedish MEP from the centre-right European People's Party, has been a vocal advocate for industrial competitiveness and regulatory simplification in the green transition.