This roadmap, in line with the Clean Industrial Deal launched by the Commission, aims to increase the competitiveness of European industry and promote sustainable production. The 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.
The Industry Demands Measures Against Unfair Competition
Celsa Group Chairman Rafael Villaseca stated that the European steel industry is struggling due to high energy costs and subsidized imports and noted: “Large quantities of imported steel produced under environmental and social conditions incomparable to European standards are displacing clean and sustainable European production and jeopardizing the viability of local producers. The use of third country trade triangles to circumvent tariff quotas set under EU safeguard measures is unacceptable. We look forward to the European Steel Action Plan to be announced in the coming days.”
Jordi Cazorla, CEO of Celsa Group, pointed out that the EU's steel industry is at risk: “Deindustrialization is already a reality, with an annual loss of 29 million tons of production over the last decade. Strong political action is essential to protect Europe's interests. We must curb unfair imports, ensure competitive energy costs, strengthen protection against carbon leakage and ensure that scrap metal produced in the EU is recycled locally rather than exported.”
Following a visit to Celsa's production facilities, Miquel Sàmper, Regional Minister of Trade and Employment of the Generalitat de Catalunya, emphasized the company's commitment to sustainable steel production, stating: “Celsa produces using the most sustainable and energy efficient technologies. This is in line with the objectives of the government of Catalonia to support the decarbonization of the industry. The Industrial Pact 2026-2030 will be based on sustainability and energy.”
Minister of Industry and Tourism Jordi Hereu highlighted the importance of industrial policies in the decarbonization process of the steel sector:
“Companies are accelerating the transformation process by increasing energy efficiency and reducing CO₂ emissions. Celsa is making significant investments in energy efficiency, emission reduction and digitalization. Our goal is to make Spain the industrial hub of Southern Europe.”
Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, commented: “Spain, and Catalonia in particular, is a pillar of European industry; a region that has succeeded in making industrial decarbonization a driver of economic competitiveness. Today, I visited two leading projects in the European low carbon industry. I am delighted to be here at such an important moment, as we celebrate the first hundred days of the new European Commission's mandate, a hundred days dedicated to advancing the industry of our continent.”
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