The Ukrainian industrial company Interpipe already complies with European standards. This was stated by the company’s CEO Luca Zanotti during the panel discussion “Ukraine and the EU Single Market: Turning Enlargement into an Opportunity for Increasing Competitiveness” at the URC 2026 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk.
According to him, the European market is currently the largest for Interpipe, since 2012 the company has invested billions of funds, funds based on two principles: free trade and compliance with the strictest EU standards.
He also stressed that the safeguard measures on steel imports adopted by the European Parliament on May 19 took into account the special status of Ukraine as a candidate country in a state of war. At the same time, in his opinion, the practical implementation of these decisions is unsatisfactory.
Zanotti noted that a separate tariff quota was provided for in Ukraine, but its volume had not yet been determined, despite the approaching date of entry into force of the new rules.
He also stated that the Ukrainian metallurgy industry did not create excess production capacities from which the European Union sought to protect its market. According to him, since the beginning of the full-scale war, steel production in Ukraine has decreased by 80%, the industry does not receive state subsidies and operates under the highest energy costs in Europe.
“I believe that the European Commission does not adhere to the spirit of the new legislation on safeguard measures against steel imports. I think this is a missed opportunity for Europe in terms of strengthening supply chains and decarbonization. Ukraine can be a solution for heavy industry,” Zanotti said.
He also drew attention to Ukraine’s potential to ensure a “green” transition of European industry. According to him, before the start of the full-scale war, Ukraine was the largest producer of natural gas outside the EU and the fourth largest producer of iron ore, which were key resources for the production of direct reduction iron (DRI).
In addition, Zanotti noted that Ukraine was rebuilding its energy system towards less carbon generation, replacing coal-fired capacity destroyed by Russian attacks with renewable energy sources, with a significant share of nuclear generation.
He also stressed the importance of human capital for the industry. According to him, the Ukrainian steel industry employs 66,000 people, and each job in metallurgy provides employment for seven more workers in related industries.
The CEO of Interpipe also called for the creation of effective mechanisms for direct access of Ukrainian businesses to financial resources provided by the European Union for the recovery of Ukraine.
“We really need mechanisms that ensure direct access of businesses to available financial capital. Average companies in Ukraine have not yet reached the level of being able to fully take advantage of this huge opportunity provided by the EUR 90 billion allocated by the European Union. Therefore, they need help in interacting with international financial corporations,” Zanotti concluded. (Minprom)