Celsa Group welcomes Stéphane Séjourné, Vice President of the European Commission, to discuss the Steel and Metals Action Plan
- This Friday, March 14, the highest representative of the EU Internal Market and Industrial Strategy visited the Celsa Group facilities in Castellbisbal (Barcelona).
- The institutional event was attended by Jordi Hereu, Minister of Industry and Tourism; and Miquel Sàmper, Regional Minister of Business and Employment of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
- Rafael Villaseca, Chairman of Celsa Group, and Jordi Cazorla, CEO, highlighted Celsa’s main figures, and addressed the sustainability and competitiveness challenges of the European steel industry.
Barcelona, 14 March 2025.
Celsa Group, a leading producer of low-emission circular steel, welcomed today Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for the Internal Market of the European Union (EU), as part of the preparations for the upcoming Steel and Metals Action Plan, to be published by the Commission on March 19. This roadmap, aligned with the recently launched Clean Industrial Deal, aims to restore the competitiveness of European industry and implement sustainability measures.
The event was also attended by Jordi Hereu, Minister of Industry and Tourism, and Miquel Sàmper, Regional Minister of Business and Employment of the Generalitat de Catalunya, who were received by Rafael Villaseca, Chairman of Celsa Group, and Jordi Cazorla, CEO.
Rafael Villaseca, president of Celsa Group, emphasized: “At Celsa, we are committed to driving innovation, resilience, and strategic growth within the industry. The steel sector faces significant threats, including high energy costs and an influx of unfairly subsidized imports. Large volumes of imported steel, produced under environmental and social conditions that are incomparable to European standards, are displacing clean and sustainable European production and jeopardizing the viability of local manufacturers. It is unacceptable that third-country trade triangulations are being used to circumvent the tariff quotas established under the EU safeguard measures. We eagerly anticipate the European Steel Action Plan, set to be unveiled in the coming days.”
Jordi Cazorla, CEO of Celsa Group, added: “The EU steel industry is at risk. Deindustrialization is already a reality, with the loss of 29 million tons of annual production over the past decade. Strong political action is essential to safeguard European interests. We must curb unfair imports, ensure competitive energy costs, strengthen protection against carbon leakage, and ensure that scrap metal generated within the EU is recycled locally rather than exported.”
On the other hand, Miquel Sàmper, Regional Minister of Business and Employment of the Generalitat de Catalunya, highlighted: “After visiting Celsa’s facilities, I want to emphasize its strong commitment to producing steel using the most sustainable and energy-efficient technologies. This aligns with the objectives of the Government of Catalonia, as we work to support the decarbonization of industry. A competitive and sustainable industrial sector will improve our ability to attract new investments. The new Pact for Industry 2026-2030, currently under development by the Department of Business and Labour, will place sustainability and energy at its core”.
Jordi Hereu, Minister of Industry and Tourism, underlined the importance of industry-led decarbonization efforts, stating: “Companies are increasingly committed to transforming their production processes to enhance energy efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions. Celsa is a prime example, planning significant investments in energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and digitalization. Our goal is to position Spain as the industrial engine of Southern Europe, strengthening our industrial base and advancing reindustrialization.”
Finally, Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, said: “Spain, and particularly Catalonia, is a pillar of European industry—a region that has successfully made industrial decarbonization a driver of economic competitiveness. Today, I have visited two leading projects in the European low-carbon industry. I am pleased to be here at such a pivotal moment, as we mark the first hundred days of the new European Commission’s mandate—one hundred days dedicated to advancing the industry of our continent.”
EU Steel and Metals Action Plan: an opportunity to boost European competitiveness
Following the publication of the Clean Industrial Deal, Jordi Cazorla participated in the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Steel Sector on March 4 in Brussels, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and industry leaders. The discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities within Europe’s steel supply chain.
During today’s meeting with Vice-President Séjourné, key measures were proposed for inclusion in the Steel and Metals Action Plan, in alignment with EUROFER’s priorities.
First, there has been a request to review and strengthen EU safeguard measures to reflect current market conditions and prevent unfair competition. Second, there is a need to ensure access to affordable energy to maintain the industry’s competitiveness. Third, it is essential to guarantee an effective Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to prevent carbon leakage. Finally, measures should be taken to preserve and recycle ferrous scrap within the EU, reinforcing circular economy objectives.
This dialogue is crucial to ensuring that clean steel production in the EU remains commercially viable, while safeguarding the competitiveness of the steel value chain.
Celsa: Leading the Production of Low-Emission Circular Steel
Celsa is currently the sixth-largest European manufacturer of long steel products and the company with the largest vertical integration in scrap and steel products in Europe. Circularity and sustainability are at the core of its business model, positioning it as a benchmark in low-emission steel production. As Spain’s leading steel recycler and the second largest in Europe, Celsa is fully committed to the circular economy, minimizing environmental impact. Its Castellbisbal plant (Barcelona) is the largest European steel manufacturing complex using EAF (electric arc furnace) technology.
In 2024, Celsa’s finished products contained 97.4% recycled material, with a goal of 98% circularity by 2030. Additionally, 94.4% of steelmaking waste was recovered, improving resource efficiency. The company produced 5.6 million tons of steel from scrap, preventing the extraction of 11 million m³ of natural resources, equivalent to the volume of 10 Empire State Buildings.
By recycling scrap instead of using iron ore, water consumption was reduced by 40%, avoiding 14 million m³ of water usage and over 14,000 GWh/year of electricity consumption. This reinforces Celsa’s commitment to decarbonization, reflected in its Climate Action Policy. The company aims to cut scope 1 and 2 CO₂ emissions by 50% by 2030, and scope 3 emissions by 25%, aligning with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) since 2021.
Celsa continues to lead the transformation of the steel sector toward a sustainable future, ensuring that production aligns with climate challenges, industrial competitiveness, and innovation.
About Celsa Group
Celsa is Europe’s leading low-emission circular steel producer, operating the largest circular supply chain in the industry. It recycles ferrous scrap into new steel using electric arc furnaces—the most sustainable and energy-efficient technology available.
With multiple business divisions, steel mills, rolling mills, and recycling plants, Celsa generates direct, indirect, and induced employment for over 10,000 professionals across Europe.
Celsa is committed to tackling resource depletion and climate change, with ambitious targets to reduce CO₂ emissions by 50% and reach 98% circularity by 2030, ultimately achieving full circularity and becoming a Net Positive company by 2050.
For more information:
Cristina Fontgivell, KREAB
cfongivell@kreab.com
