EU Launches RESourceEU Action Plan to Tackle Critical Raw Materials Dependency

For professionals across the chemicals, energy, defence, and advanced manufacturing sectors, the RESourceEU Action Plan marks a strategic shift in the EU’s industrial policy—anchoring resilience and sustainability in critical supply chains that underpin Europe’s green, digital, and security transitions.

CRMs: A Strategic Imperative for Europe's Industrial Future

Critical raw materials such as lithium, rare earth elements, cobalt, nickel, and graphite are essential to a range of technologies, from electric vehicles and wind turbines to semiconductors and defence systems. Yet the EU remains heavily dependent on imports, with over 65% of several CRMs sourced from a single non-EU country, primarily China.

The European Commission has raised the alarm that these dependencies present serious vulnerabilities. Export restrictions, opaque licensing regimes, and political tensions have already caused supply disruptions, placing sectors such as automotive, aerospace, medical devices, and defence at risk of production slowdowns, plant closures, and job losses.

Without decisive action, the EU risks falling behind in global industrial competitiveness and failing to meet its 2030 climate and defence readiness objectives.

Strategic Investments and Supply Chain Resilience

At the heart of the RESourceEU Action Plan is the creation of the European Critical Raw Materials Centre, set to become operational in 2026. This central body will provide:

• Market intelligence on primary and secondary CRMs supply chains
• Guidance on investment and stockpiling strategies
• Coordination of joint purchasing and demand aggregation
• Monitoring of Strategic Projects to ensure timely delivery

The Centre draws inspiration from Japan’s JOGMEC model and is designed to act as a strategic “shield” for the EU’s single market.

To support CRM production and diversification, the Commission aims to mobilise €3 billion in investments over the next 12 months. This includes:

• €700 million from the Innovation Fund in 2026, targeting clean tech and CRM supply chains
• €1.8 billion under the Battery Booster programme
• €2 billion annually in CRM-related finance from the European Investment Bank (EIB)
• Additional support through the European Defence Industry Programme and Just Transition Fund

Projects already receiving backing include Vulcan’s lithium extraction site in Germany and Greenland Resources’ molybdenum mine, key to strengthening defence supply chains.

Promoting Circularity and Innovation

Boosting the circular use of CRMs is a central pillar of the plan. Currently, less than 1% of rare earths are recycled in the EU, and around 40% of end-of-life products are collected. The Commission will:

• Propose restrictions on the export of permanent magnet scrap by Q2 2026
• Ban exports of black mass from waste batteries to non-OECD countries starting September 2026
• Introduce labelling and recyclability requirements for permanent magnets
• Support facilities like Hydromet in Finland and MagReesource in France in scaling up recycling

Furthermore, the revision of the CRMA will expand definitions of recycled content to include pre-consumer waste, encouraging manufacturers to reintegrate high-purity materials into production lines.

Research and innovation will also be bolstered, with:

• €593 million in Horizon Europe calls for circular economy and material efficiency
• €100 million in EIC Accelerator blended finance, targeting CRM substitutes and advanced materials
• Support for Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) in CRM innovation and deployment

Building a Trusted Global CRM Network

To diversify supply, the EU is intensifying cooperation with 15 strategic partner countries, including Canada, South Africa, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Namibia. These partnerships focus on:

• Joint investment in CRM exploration and processing
• ESG-aligned project development
• Enhanced trade through Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships

A matchmaking platform, part of the EU Energy and Raw Materials Platform, launched in November 2025, will host its first round of demand aggregation in March 2026, focusing on rare earths, battery inputs, and defence-related CRMs. This tool is designed to:

• Connect EU buyers with trusted suppliers
• Improve SME access to strategic materials
• Facilitate joint purchasing and offtake agreements
• Strengthen market transparency and long-term viability for EU projects

This system will ultimately integrate into the Critical Raw Materials Centre’s operations, ensuring consistent alignment with industrial needs.