The European Commission has unveiled the RESourceEU Action Plan, a bold initiative aimed at accelerating Europe’s efforts to secure vital raw materials such as rare earth elements, cobalt, and lithium. 

 

Building on the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), the plan provides financing and concrete tools to shield European industry from geopolitical and price shocks, promote critical projects, and diversify supply chains through international partnerships.

 

The plan sets out a clear mission: fast-track key projects and reduce Europe’s strategic dependencies.

 

“To protect European industry from geopolitical and price shocks,” the Commission said, it will establish a European Critical Raw Materials Centre in early 2026. The centre will provide market intelligence, finance strategic projects with public and private partners, and act as a portfolio manager for diversified, resilient supply chains, including joint purchasing and stockpiling.

 

To further guard against volatility, the Raw Materials Platform will help companies aggregate demand, secure offtake agreements, and pursue joint purchasing. A pilot stockpiling scheme with Member States is also expected to be operational by early 2026. The plan foresees monitoring, crisis coordination, and defense against hostile interference to protect the Single Market.

 

Europe’s recycling capacity will also get a boost. In early 2026, restrictions will be introduced on the export of permanent magnet scraps and waste, with targeted measures on aluminum scrap—and potentially copper scrap—if needed. 

 

An amendment to the CRMA will expand product labeling requirements and incentivize recycling of pre-consumer waste, including trimmings and defective products. “Shares of recycled content in permanent magnets will support recycling in the EU,” the Commission said. By mid-2026, an action plan will also support domestic fertilizers, recycled nutrients, and alternatives to critical raw material-based fertilizers.

 

The plan promises to accelerate projects by removing regulatory hurdles and offering financial de-risking tools. The EU aims to reduce dependencies by up to 50% by 2029, mobilizing up to €3 billion over the next 12 months for concrete projects, including Vulcan’s lithium extraction in Germany and Greenland Resources’ Malmbjerg molybdenum project.

 

On the international front, the EU will expand partnerships with resource-rich nations to diversify supply and industrial cooperation. Building on 15 existing Strategic Partnerships, including the most recent with South Africa, the Commission will also launch negotiations with Brazil. 

 

Dedicated investment frameworks will be developed with Ukraine, the Western Balkans, and the Southern Neighborhood, while win-win projects under Global Gateway will target emerging markets. Internally, the EU backs the Canada-led G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance and the G20 Critical Minerals Framework.

 

The RESourceEU Action Plan signals a decisive move by Brussels to ensure Europe is no longer at the mercy of global raw material shocks, strengthening both industry and strategic autonomy.