The delicate situation facing the company Tubos Reunidos, in particular, and the Aiaraldea region in general, was discussed yesterday at the heart of the European Union. A PNV delegation, comprising the president of the Araba Buru Batzar, the mayor of Amurrio, a jeltzale parliamentarian, and a PNV MEP, met with representatives from the DG Grow –Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs– of the European Commission.
The meeting, described as “fruitful” by the mayor of Amurrio, resulted in a commitment to “analyze and monitor” three lines of work: debt and tariffs, energy and transition, and industrial future. Regarding the first point, the commitment is to “explore aid for debt rescue due to the impact of tariffs,” coordinating with the Directorate-General for Competition and the Directorate-General for Employment to find possible solutions.
“"Neither Aiaraldea nor Europe can afford to lose this industrial muscle."
Tubos Reunidos carries a debt of 263 million euros, with SEPI as its main creditor. Recently, the Industry Minister of the Basque Government explained that the Basque Government had proposed to the Spanish Executive that the restructuring of the Alavese company's debt could have been included in the decree of measures to alleviate the effects of the war in the Middle East, although this proposal did not proceed.
In the energy sector, discussions with the DG Grow of the European Commission focused on aid for energy-intensive industries, which will be reviewed as a result of the war in Iran. Furthermore, it was proposed that Aiaraldea and Euskadi host a European pilot project for the Industrial Hub to support industrial reconversion towards a low-carbon model.
Meanwhile, Tubos Reunidos workers are called to a new demonstration this Thursday, April 23, in Bilbao, preceded by a concentration in front of the company's headquarters in the Biscayan capital. Committee representatives intend to submit a letter requesting the company to withdraw the employment regulation file and “sit down to negotiate solutions to the conflict, in a real negotiation and without threats of layoffs, closures, or outsourcing.” On Friday, April 24, they will hold another demonstration in the morning from the Amurrio facilities to the town center.
