The European Commission (EC) has adopted a list of 47 strategic projects to enhance domestic raw material capacities, strengthening Europe’s raw materials value chain and diversifying supply sources.
The strategic projects mark a significant step in the implementation of the Critical Raw Material Act (CRMA), which aims to meet 10% extraction, 40% processing and 25% recycling of EU raw material demand by 2030.
The EU granted the final approval for the CRMA in March 2024 as part of plans to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China.
The projects target 14 of the 17 strategic raw materials identified in the CRMA, with a particular focus on lithium with 22 projects, alongside 12 nickel, ten cobalt, seven manganese and 11 graphite projects, which are critical for the EU battery raw material value chain.
These strategic projects require a total capital investment of €22.5bn to become operational.
They are expected to receive coordinated support from the Commission, member states and financial institutions, in addition to streamlined permitting processes to ensure predictability and compliance with high standards.
Prosperity and Industrial Strategy executive vice-president Stéphane Séjourné said: “At the very start of our most strategic supply chains are raw materials. They are also indispensable to the decarbonisation of our continent, but Europe currently depends on third countries for many of the raw materials it needs the most. We must increase our own production, diversify our external supply and make stockpiles.
“We have identified 47 new strategic projects that, for the first time, will help us secure our own domestic supply of raw materials. This is a landmark moment for European sovereignty as an industrial powerhouse.”
The strategic projects span 13 EU member states including Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sweden.
They are in various stages of the raw material value chain, with 25 focused on extraction, 24 on processing, ten on recycling and two on raw material substitution.
The selected projects align with the EU’s secure supply objectives and adhere to stringent environmental, social and governance criteria.
They also offer clear cross-border benefits for the EU, demonstrating both technical feasibility and adherence to the CRMA’s standards.
