The German Steel Industry Association (WV Stahl) welcomed the Bundestag’s approval of a bill aimed at accelerating public procurement, but stated that the legislation in its current form would not deliver tangible benefits for the industry or its decarbonization efforts.

The association noted that public procurement could play a key role in supporting the transition to climate neutrality by creating stable demand for low-carbon materials, particularly steel and cement produced within the European Union. However, WV Stahl said the draft law lacks concrete mechanisms to achieve this, including the absence of lead markets for green products, mandatory sustainability criteria, and Made in EU requirements.

Steelmakers are already investing billions of euros in climate-neutral technologies and require clear demand signals from the government. The association also raised concerns over delayed implementation details and warned that, without EU-focused procurement rules, public funds could support decarbonization outside Europe.