These were the two basic themes of Mr Pfeiffer's address to the Third Steel Conference, held in Luxembourg on 22 May 1987. Mr Pfeiffer recalled the main features of the challenge now facing industrial and social policy in the shape of the present situation in the European steel industry, viz. the decline in the consumption of steel, 2OO million tonnes of overcapacity in the OECD countries, increased competition and a lack of competitiveness due to the appreciation of the European currencies.
Dans son intervention, M. Pfeiffer a rappele les donnees essentielles de ce defi de politique industrielle et sociale que represente la situation actuelle de l'industrie europeenne de l'acier : la baisse de la consommation d'acier, 200 millions de tonnes de surcapacite dans les pays de l'OCDE, une concurrence accrue, une perte de competitivite due a l'appreciation des monnaies europeennes.