Íñigo Recio (GVC Gaesco) | The acquistion of the Italian company Ilva is a strategic operation for ArcelorMittal for the following reasons: 1)it did not have any industrial presence in Italy; 2)the deal means it can cope with steel imports in the Italian market – one of the principal access ports to Europe from non-community steel producing countries (mainly Asia) – and 3) it allows for greater steel prices discipline in Europe.