00:00The hollow remains of what was once Hungary's largest steel plant loom over Dunajubados.
00:06For decades, Dunafair was more than just an employer, it was the backbone of an entire city.
00:12Its decline mirrors the struggles of many European steel makers fighting for survival.
00:20It's hard to believe how much the population has shrunk in a city that once had 60,000 people.
00:27Back then, everyone wanted to live near Dunafair. It was the heart of the community.
00:32My parents always said, to learn a trade and work for Dunafair, that would ensure me a stable future until retirement.
00:40The factory's decline began after the 2008 financial crisis when steel demand plummeted
00:46and investment stalled that led to years of economic struggles.
00:51This plant once employed 14,000 people. Now, the furnaces are cold.
00:56The company that ran the factory went bankrupt four months ago.
01:00The workers wait and hope a new buyer will bring it back to life, but chances are slim.
01:06Across Europe, the steel industry is struggling with high cost, low demand and now the threat of US tariffs.
01:15Sultan Majar, the president of Dunafair Steel Workers Union, says European leaders must act before it's too late.
01:22We hope that sooner or later something will change, or at least that people will recognize how much this market in Europe is struggling.
01:31There needs to be more European level support.
01:35European leaders have met with industry leaders to discuss the future of steel
01:39as new US tariffs of 25% on imports threaten to shake up the market even further.
01:45The EU is weighting its options such as more protections and more subsidies
01:50and is set to unveil an action plan for the sector on March 19th.
01:55But for workers like Gabor, change can't come soon enough.
02:00If a country lets its steel industry collapse, it exposes itself to the world market in ways that cannot be repaired.
02:09Germany and the US are supporting their steel industries.
02:13For Dunajobados, the stakes couldn't be higher.
02:16If the factory never reopens, the economic fallout could be devastating.
02:20Real estate values will drop, businesses will suffer and city revenues will shrink.
02:25For the people of this city, steel isn't just metal, it's history, it's identity, it's their backbone.
02:32Pablo Gutierrez, CGTN, Dunajobados, Hungary.
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