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Europe’s Lithium Paradox premiering in Brussels

Europe's Lithium Paradox - Documentary Screening and Panel

On 17 November, Europe’s Lithium Paradox held its final avant-première at Cinema Aventure (Brussels) — A full house!

On 17 November, “Europe’s Lithium Paradox” had its final avant-première event in Cinema Aventure (Brussels) – a full house! – followed by the official release of the documentary film to a global audience (watch at the link below). An award-winning documentary that highlights the tension at the heart of Europe’s energy transition: we must move quickly to address the climate crisis, but establishing a responsible and resilient lithium supply chain takes time.

This film explores lithium’s crucial role in Europe’s mission to become the world’s first climate neutral continent, while recognising the importance of local environmental & cultural preservation. The documentary unravels the intricate challenges and opportunities surrounding lithium mining, refining and recycling. And it examines the role of demand-side management reducing the need for primary lithium extraction. The film intends to help building bridges between European civil society and the metals production industry.

The documentary highlights the tension at the heart of Europe’s energy transition: we must move quickly to address the climate crisis, but establishing a responsible and resilient lithium supply chain takes time.

The event opened with a fireside chat featuring the film’s presenter, Peter Tom Jones (SIM2 KU Leuven), interviewed by moderator Filip De Rycke. Jones explains that Europe holds 27 significant lithium deposits across countries including Portugal, Spain, France, Finland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, with 7 designated as strategic under the Critical Raw Materials Act. Despite this, the continent lacks large-scale lithium refining facilities, leaving raw concentrates dependent on China and preventing Europe from controlling key parts of the battery supply chain.

Key Challenges:

Investment Flight: Companies (like Solvay) are relocating to the US due to faster permits and better financial support, undermining Europe’s competitiveness.

Project Failures and Geopolitics: The halt of Serbia’s Jadar Project threatens European energy independence, and reflects political resistance, disinformation, and hybrid warfare risks (Russia) .

Policy Execution Gaps: The Critical Raw Materials Act (March 2024) has failed to stop project closures or investment flight; Europe’s permitting and incentives lag behind global competitors.

Cultural Barriers: Excessive debate and slow implementation (“death by talking”) hinder progress in building the full lithium supply chain.

Urgent Needs:

Accelerate (responsibly though) mining, refining, and project approvals to secure domestic lithium for batteries, EVs, and energy transition goals.

Develop large-scale European refining capacity to reduce dependency on China.

Shift the political and cultural approach from debate to decisive action.

Strategic Implication: Without rapid, coordinated action, Europe risks losing industrial jobs, strategic autonomy, and leadership in the global green economy.

This opening gambit formed a conducive environment for a very lively panel debate after the film screening.

On the panel were Alicia Polo y La Borda (The Copper Mark), Emily Ritchey (T&E), Rolf Kuby (Euromines), and EXCEED Strategic Manager (documentary co-writer and presenter) Peter Tom Jones (SIM2 KU Leuven).

The discussion underlined several critical insights:

Trust in institutions is essential: countries like Finland or Sweden show how strong governance builds acceptance, whereas the controversy around Serbia’s Jadar project shows the risks when trust is weak.

We need to integrate social scientists (or “social geologists”), engage transparently with environmental activists, and involve local communities meaningfully. The Inuit in Quebec, for example, not only benefit economically but play a role in governing mining projects.

To strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy, we must focus on green public procurement, prioritize local and recycled content, and keep more value within Europe. Specifically, export restrictions on black mass could help prevent fragmented supply chains and retain critical materials on the continent. The message: Make in Europe, buy in Europe.

There’s also a geopolitical dimension: shrinking dependence on external actors (especially in the current climate of shifting relationships) requires policy, industrial strategy, and social legitimacy to go hand in hand.

Ultimately, the panel reinforced what the documentary calls “Europe’s lithium paradox”: real change demands both urgency and patience, and solving it requires technological ambition plus trust, inclusion, and coherent policy.

The following day, the film received its 3rd award – Documentary Impact Award – by 14th TVE Global Sustainability Film Awards 2025 (see below info about the other 2 awards and 3 nominations). Watch the full film below.

Key information:
Film crew: Director: Stijn van Baarle (STORYRUNNER), Presenter: Peter Tom Jones (SIM2 KU Leuven), Cameramen: Michael Van de Velde & Jochen Maes; Sound technicians: Casimir De Kimpe, Jeroen De Vriese, Editing: Jasper Vander Elst.
Funding: Horizon Europe (LITHOS/EXCEED), SIM² KU Leuven & KU Leuven crowdfunding.

AWARDS/SELECTIONS
🏆 Best Environment and Climate Film at the Berlin Kiez Film Festival
🏆 Honourable Mention Award at MY NAME IS CLIMATE Film Festival
🏅Official selection as Finalist by British Columbia Environmental Film Festival Society

RESourceEU: Turning Europe’s Raw Materials Ambition into Action

Europe finds itself at a turning point. As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared at the 2025 Berlin Global Dialogue, the tightening of export controls by China on rare earths and battery materials presents a “structural challenge” to supply chains and industrial competitiveness.

The launch of RESourceEU offers an opportunity, but only if it does more than serve as another implementation vehicle for the CRMA. Europe must shift from procedural reform to industrial strategy. To this end, we offer a blueprint for how RESourceEU must deliver:

Review and reform the acquis

Europe must address bottlenecks in permitting, energy pricing, access to finance and state-aid frameworks, turning these from constraints into enablers of investment. As President von der Leyen remarked: “Our response must match the scale of the risks we face … Europe cannot do things the same way any more.”

Move beyond the REPowerEU template

While the REPowerEU experience offers lessons, raw-materials markets are fundamentally different from energy markets. RESourceEU must recognise the global, fungible and interconnected nature of raw-material supply chains rather than adopting cookie-cutter solutions like central procurement or stockpiles alone.

Connect supply, demand and value

Competitiveness is not a policy, but the result of integrated policy. Europe needs:

Accelerated development of strategic extraction and processing facilities (low-energy cost, low-friction permitting).
Standards-based markets supported by targeted state aid or price-support mechanisms, tailored to each material’s market structure.
Supply-chain clustering, domestic value capture and industrial ecosystems tied to clean-tech and defence deployment.

Recognise value – not just cost

For too long, Europe has externalised the costs of raw-material extraction while retaining only the downstream value. That model is no longer fit for purpose. The time has come to invest in value creation, not simply cost minimisation.

In her speech, President von der Leyen provided the political backing: “The aim is to secure access to alternative sources of critical raw materials in the short, medium and long term for our European industry … We will boost investment in strategic projects for the production and processing of critical raw materials here in the European Union.”

For RESourceEU to succeed, we must start with a clear diagnosis and root-and-branch policy reform before layering instruments. Let’s fix the foundations: streamline permitting, reduce energy cost burdens, unlock finance and markets, so that Europe’s raw-materials industry can truly deliver on its promise.

Euromines publishes Omnibus on Enabling Effective Procedures – simplifying Environmental Legislation

Euromines releases its Omnibus on Enabling Effective Procedures, a comprehensive position paper calling for faster, simpler, and more predictable environmental permitting in the EU.

The document highlights the urgent need to streamline overlapping legislation and reduce administrative burdens that delay vital mining and raw materials projects essential for Europe’s clean and resilient future.

Key Points:

Calls for simplified and outcome-oriented permitting across Member States.
Proposes balanced implementation between environmental protection and industrial competitiveness.
Recommends concrete measures to unblock Europe’s raw material potential, including:
- Streamlining the Water Framework Directive and related rules.
- Clarifying processes under Natura 2000 and the Nature Restoration Regulation.
- Reconsidering the scope of the Industrial Emissions Directive.
- Avoiding administrative overlap through the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive.
Advocates for “Strategic Zones” or “Go-To Zones” to fast-track sustainable mining investments.

The Omnibus underscores that Europe’s green transition depends on effective, efficient permitting that builds trust, coherence, and competitiveness, without compromising high environmental standards.

Read our position paper below.

PRESS RELEASE: European extractive industries’ social partners unveil new study on the importance of social dialogue

New EU-funded project shows that strong collaboration between workers and employers drives sustainability, better working conditions, and industrial resilience across Europe

Brussels, 15 October 2025 – Euromines and industriAll Europe have teamed up for the EU-funded project SODISEES, exploring how effective social dialogue can accelerate social sustainability in Europe’s extractive industries.

The report, “Social Dialogue for Sustainable Extractives Industries in Europe” is being launched today at the high-level conference, gathering trade unions, employers’ organisations, and policymakers. Its central message: by working together, workers, employers, and public authorities can build stronger industries and secure good, sustainable industrial jobs for the future.

The report outlines concrete measures to strengthen social dialogue and accelerate sustainable practices in Europe’s extractive industries.

Key Findings:

Social dialogue is a strategic asset for just and sustainable transitions. Across company, national, sectoral, and EU levels, robust social dialogue helps improve working conditions, support training and re-training, and manage the just transition. All key to meeting the sector’s sustainability challenges;
The main ingredients determining success are: a supportive state framework that encourages social dialogue and collective bargaining, representative participation, and a strong willingness from both sides to negotiate. All prerequisites identified for durable, high-quality social dialogue;
Practical examples show impact in health and safety at work, inclusion, and skills. Cases include NEPSI’s multisectoral agreement on crystalline silica, Spain’s Mining Safety Commission, and transnational practice sharing via European Works Councils, which demonstrate how social dialogue improves Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), encourages good practices, and strengthens capacity.
Governance innovations accelerate acceptance and performance. Participatory mechanisms (e.g., France’s public debate process/CNDP) and regional strategies (e.g., Andalusia’s SSMA 2030 with social-partner leadership), which include trade unions and employers’ organisations, help build trust, enable earlier information-sharing, and integrate social aims with environmental goals.
Skills and transition readiness improvement: joint training plans and co-designed upskilling pathways help workers adapt to digitalisation, automation, and low-carbon processes, supporting competitiveness and retention.

The SODISEES project combines desk research, interviews, a partner survey, and workshops in Seville, Stockholm, and Katowice to map challenges and good practices across six themes: social dialogue; quality jobs; inclusion and diversity; innovation; training and skills; and green transition.

“This project sends a clear message: Europe’s industrial future must be built with workers, not around them. The extractive industries are vital to our strategic autonomy and industrial resilience—but they will only be sustainable if they are also socially just. Social dialogue is not a procedural add-on; it is the democratic infrastructure that ensures industrial policy delivers for people, regions, and communities. The examples documented in this report prove that when workers have a seat at the table, solutions are smarter, fairer, and more durable. If Europe wants to secure its raw materials and maintain its license to operate, it must invest in strong social partnerships and inclusive governance. There is no responsible industrial strategy without social dialogue.” – Judith Kirton Darling, General Secretary, industriAll Europe

“Strong social dialogue is key for a resilient and competitive mining industry in Europe. The SODISEES project and its latest report show how collaboration between employers and workers can build trust, enhance skills, and promote sustainable, long-term growth for both the industry and the communities it serves” – Rolf Kuby, Director General, Euromines

Policy context

The project operates within the EU’s sectoral social dialogue architecture and addresses the needed social pillar on which Europe’s extractive industries should be built, including the need to align with evolving EU policy, critical raw materials needs, and just-transition objectives. Sector-level dialogue’s priorities identified in the report include quality of work, health & safety at work, and skills for the twin transition.

Background

Minerals are essential for Europe’s green and digital transitions, yet operations face complex environmental and social challenges, from decarbonisation and water use to biodiversity, community acceptance, and job quality. The report concludes that true sustainability cannot be achieved without addressing social challenges through genuine social dialogue. When social dialogue is meaningful e, employers and workers co-create solutions that improve working conditions, strengthen social outcomes, and build long-term resilience and competitiveness.

More information

Full report and media kit: LINK

About industriAll Europe

IndustriAll European Trade Union is a federation of independent and democratic trade unions representing manual and non-manual workers in the metal, chemical, energy, mining, textile, clothing and footwear sectors and related industries and activities. We speak for 7 million working men and women united within 200 national trade union affiliates in 39 European countries. https://news.industriall-europe.eu

Media contact: Danai Dimitrakopoulos (Danai.Dimitrakopoulos@industriall-europe.eu)

About Euromines

Euromines, the European Association of Mining, Metal Ores & Industrial Minerals, is the voice of the European metals and minerals mining industry. Our primary goal is to promote responsible industry practices and ensure that mining receives appropriate consideration in EU policymaking. As a collaborative network, Euromines brings together the Secretariat and Members to assess the impact of European and international policies on the industry, shaping unified positions and actions. Representing both large and small companies, as well as their subsidiaries across Europe and beyond, Euromines advocates for a sustainable and competitive mining sector. More information on www.euromines.org

Media contact: Anna Zanetti (zanetti@euromines.be)

PRESS RELEASE: Euromines welcomes Mine Master and Zinnwald Lithium as its newest members

Brussels, 08 October 2025 – Euromines is pleased to announce the addition of Mine Master and Zinnwald Lithium as its newest company members, strengthening the association’s representation of Europe’s mining and minerals industry.

Their entry follows Euromines’ admission process, which ensures that new members demonstrate a strong commitment to responsible mining practices and to advancing the European raw materials sector in line with sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness. Both companies were formally endorsed by Euromines’ Board.

Mine Master, based in Poland, is a leading designer and manufacturer of underground mining equipment, with over 50 years of expertise supporting safe and efficient mineral production across Europe and globally. The company combines engineering excellence with a focus on safety, reliability, and sustainable development in mining operations.

Zinnwald Lithium, headquartered in the United Kingdom, is developing one of Europe’s most advanced lithium projects on the German Czech border. As Europe works to secure strategic raw materials for the green transition, Zinnwald Lithium’s project will play an essential role in strengthening the European battery value chain and supporting climate-neutral technologies.

With the addition of Mine Master and Zinnwald Lithium, Euromines reinforces its role as the voice of a diverse and innovative European mining industry. Their inclusion underscores the growing recognition of mining’s central role in delivering the raw materials needed for Europe’s strategic autonomy, energy transition, and sustainable future.

“We are delighted to welcome Mine Master and Zinnwald Lithium into the Euromines family. Their expertise and forward-looking strategies will be invaluable as we continue to promote responsible mining in Europe, enhance competitiveness, and secure the raw materials critical to Europe’s economy and the Green Deal. We look forward to their active engagement in our work and collective efforts to advance Europe’s sustainable raw materials sector.” — Rolf Kuby, Director-General, Euromines

“I am excited for us to join forces with Euromines and contribute our more than 50 years of expertise to shaping the future of Europe’s mining sector. Mining is not only about resources — it is about innovation, sustainability, and Europe’s ability to lead in the global transition. By working together, we can ensure the sector plays its vital role in building a stronger and more sustainable future for all.” — Jerzy Nadolny, CEO, Mine Master

“Joining Euromines reflects our commitment to building a responsible and sustainable lithium project at the heart of Europe. As the demand for critical minerals grows, collaboration between industry and policymakers is essential to ensure secure and ethical supply chains. We are proud to add our voice to this dialogue and to contribute to Europe’s clean energy future.” — Cherif Rifaat, Chief Financial Officer, Zinnwald Lithium

Media contact: Anna Zanetti (zanetti@euromines.be)

Download the press release below.

Euromines Safety Awards 2025: Celebrating Excellence in Mining Safety

The Euromines Safety Awards 2025, held on 8 October in Brussels, brought together members and stakeholders from across the mining industry to celebrate excellence in safety. Among the distinguished guests was keynote speaker and jury member Charlotte Grevfors Ernoult, Head of Unit at the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission. In an industry where safety is paramount, this year’s winners were recognised for their outstanding commitment to advancing protection and prevention. The event highlighted not only best practices but also the innovation shaping the future of safe and responsible mining in Europe.

Gold Winner: Atalaya Riotinto

Atalaya Riotinto’s “Field Leadership Activities” project promotes a proactive safety culture by placing workers at the heart of prevention efforts. Through multidisciplinary teams, the initiative conducts audits, safety observations, “Stop and Talk” sessions, and inspections, fostering cross-departmental learning and direct management engagement. Tracked via a digital platform, the project has led to fewer accidents, stronger risk awareness, and lasting cultural change, all with minimal investment and maximum impact.

Silver Winner: Boliden Mineral AB

Boliden Mineral AB’s “Blast Safe” project is a cutting-edge system that ensures all personnel are safely evacuated before blasting. By integrating real-time access control with location verification via access cards or smartphones, the system confirms that everyone is either outside the blast zone or in a certified shelter before authorizing detonation. Supported by routine checks and performance reviews, Blast Safe significantly improves safety, accountability, and confidence in one of mining’s highest-risk operations.

Bronze Winner: LKAB Mekaniska AB

LKAB Mekaniska AB’s “Safety Lock for Silo Renovation” project eliminates the need for workers to enter hazardous silos during maintenance. Using drones, VR simulations, and a remotely installed safety lock system, the solution achieved zero man-hours inside the silo, drastically reducing risk while maintaining operations. The project showcases how digital tools and cross-functional innovation can significantly enhance safety and efficiency in industrial maintenance.

Looking to the Future of Mining Safety

The Euromines Safety Awards 2025 celebrates groundbreaking innovations that raise the bar for safety in the mining industry. Each winning project demonstrates that, even in a industry with high safety standards, there is always potential to go further. These forward-thinking initiatives not only enhance day-to-day operations but also set a strong foundation for a safer, more efficient future in mining.

Joint call for a rapid adoption of the postponement of phase-in disclosure requirements for first wave CSRD undertakings

We, the undersigned associations, express our collective support for the European Commission’s delegated act, adopted on 11 July, on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) to pause additional phase-in data points for certain CSRD wave-1 undertakings by two years.

We urge the European Parliament and Council to promptly confirm their intention not to object to this delegated act. A timely confirmation will allow a swift entry into force, thereby providing the necessary legal certainty for affected companies.

The 26 February omnibus proposal included a separate legislative proposal to postpone by two years the entry into application of the CSRD reporting requirements for undertakings in the second wave and third wave (so-called “stop-the-clock” proposal). However, the stop-the-clock Directive does not postpone the reporting requirements for companies in wave one, which are required to report in 2025 information on the financial year 2024, and will have to meet additional reporting requirements for the financial years 2025 and 2026, even though the revised and simplified ESRS might subsequently modify those same requirements.

The proposed delegated act addresses this issue by freezing the ESRS reporting requirements for wave one undertakings as they are for the first year of application of the standards.

This is crucial for the following reasons:

Maintaining EU leadership and competitiveness: This delegated act is instrumental in maintaining the EU’s leadership in transitioning to a sustainable economy. It prevents competitive disadvantages for EU industries, which is particularly crucial given the current geopolitical context. The new requirements would include commercially sensitive information and imply considerable additional resource investment, which could potentially be futile given the ongoing efforts to simplify the reporting standards. Ensuring a level playing field is essential for the continued growth and sustainability of our industries.
Refining new reporting practices: The delegated act ensures that wave-1 companies can continue reporting as per their current scope, thereby allowing wave-1 companies to focus their efforts on improving their existing reports.

Read the joint statement below.

JOIN EUROMINES TEAM: we are looking for an Environment, Health & Safety Officer

New position: “Environment, Health & Safety Officer” at Euromines Brussels, Belgium

About the Association

Euromines, the recognised representative of the European metals and minerals mining industry, is looking for an Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Officer to join its Brussels office.

The association’s main objective is to promote the industry and to maintain its relations with European institutions at all levels. Euromines provides an exchange of information throughout the sector within Europe. The Association represents large and small companies and subsidiaries in Europe and in other parts of the world, which provide jobs to more than 350,000 people. Through the activities and operations of these members, 54 different metals and minerals are produced.

About the position

The EHS Officer will be responsible for supporting the functioning of the Environment, Health and Safety Committees and their taskforces, and interaction with external stakeholder groups. S/He will be working with the team on a variety of dossiers related to the European Green Deal, Health & Safety, and Chemical ambitions, their regulatory developments, and their implementation within the sector.

She/he will provide specific support to:

Supporting Euromines Members.
Interacting with different external stakeholders (European Institutions such as the Commission, Parliament, and Council, Industry associations, NGOs, Trade Unions, etc.).
Reporting to the Euromines Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager, but also being in active liaison with the other Euromines departments on Energy and Climate, Sustainability, and Communication.
Representing the European mineral raw materials industry towards the EU Institutions and international or intergovernmental bodies by establishing a constructive dialogue and by ensuring early consultation in all areas of EU Environmental, Chemical, Social Dialogue, and Health & Safety policy affecting the industry.
Promoting the benefits and value of both the raw materials and the mining industry to society and asserting the industry’s views and positions.
Supporting the work of the vast environmental dossiers and their respective Task Forces (TFs), particularly the new metals mining BREF-making process in Seville.
Organizing, supporting and running the Committees on Environment and Health & Safety and their specific TFs.
Monitoring the relevant regulatory activities and informing the members of these regulatory activities and/or any (planned) legislative developments.
Working proactively in bringing new issues to the attention of the Euromines members, and not just reacting to them.

Requirements for the position

MSc in chemistry, biology, environmental sciences, environmental and/or chemical law, industrial/mining engineering, or other relevant technical fields.
2 years of previous work experience in a similar role in an industry/or association, or policy environment.
Experience in environmental, H&S topics, and the EU regulatory arena.
Experience in technical project management or experience in projects aimed at addressing chemicals management issues related to the regulatory challenges affecting the mining sector is a strong asset.
Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English.
Interest in establishing and developing networks with industry professionals and with authorities, and academics.

Key Skills

Strong interest in learning about technical and regulatory aspects of relevance to the sector and on chemicals management-related topics.
Problem-solving and good analytical skills.
Ability to work in a diverse, fast-paced, fluid, and collaborative environment.
Excellent attention to detail and ability to function effectively under pressure.
Solution-focused, with some decision-making abilities.
Sense of professionalism with excellent English written and verbal communication skills; fluency in another or more EU languages is a desirable asset.
IT proficient, using Microsoft Office Suite, and project management software.
A ‘can-do’ attitude by being task-orientated and outcomes driven.
Team player.

What Euromines offers

An international working environment with a leading European trade association.
Opportunities to grow, take initiative and work with an ambitious team.
An attractive remuneration package (incl. fringe benefits) commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Full-time, permanent contract.

How to apply

You can apply by sending your CV and a cover letter including 2 professional references to Cynthia Mestanza at mestanza@euromines.be indicating ‘EHS Officer – Euromines’ in the subject line.

The position is open until filled. While there is no deadline to apply, interested candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible due to assessment on a rolling basis.

Starting Date: as soon as possible

PRESS RELEASE: Europe expands critical raw materials strategy with global strategic projects

Brussels, 4 June 2025 – The European Union has today taken a further step toward securing its industrial resilience by announcing the list of 13 non-EU strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act. This complements the recent designation of 47 EU-based projects and underscores the need for a globally coordinated response to raw materials supply risks.

These non-EU projects will be key to strengthening Europe’s access to responsibly sourced raw materials critical for the green transition, digital technologies, and defence readiness. By building resilient and diversified value chains through trusted international partnerships, the EU is reaffirming its commitment to reducing dependencies and strengthening strategic autonomy.

“This global approach reflects the reality of modern industry,” said Rolf Kuby, Director General of Euromines. “Europe cannot build its clean energy and tech ambitions on fragile foundations. We must match our environmental and social standards abroad with real investments, coordinated industrial policy, and long-term diplomatic engagement.”

Euromines notes the expansion of the Strategic Projects framework beyond EU borders and calls on policymakers to follow through with targeted instruments capable of turning ambition into tangible results. These include streamlined permitting procedures, investment guarantees, and infrastructure support—both within the EU and in partner countries. A unified and proactive approach is essential for the EU to establish secure, responsible, and future-proof raw material supply chains that underpin its industrial strategy.

Media contact: Anna Zanetti (zanetti@euromines.be)

Download the press release below.

Tobias Andres (VKS): Europe’s raw materials security starts with mining

In the January 2025 edition of Potash & Rock Salt by VKS, Tobias Andres, Executive Committee (EXCOM) member of Euromines and Managing Director of the Brussels office of our member VKS (German Association of the Potash and Salt Industry), delivers a clear message: securing Europe’s raw materials supply requires a resilient and coordinated value chain that starts with mining.

Andres reflects on the evolving policy landscape, noting the transition from the European Green Deal to the recently unveiled Clean Industrial Deal which is an initiative designed to revitalise industrial competitiveness while maintaining momentum on decarbonisation. While these frameworks set a strategic course for Europe’s climate and economic ambitions, Andres cautions that the increasingly complex regulatory environment may hinder key sectors, particularly potash and salt, which are indispensable to food security, healthcare, and industrial production.

He emphasises that domestic extraction of primary raw materials must remain a cornerstone of Europe’s sustainability strategy and should not be overshadowed by the political focus on recycling and circularity.

A central concern highlighted is the omission of potash and salt from the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act. Despite their vital roles in essential sectors, these resources have yet to receive the strategic recognition afforded to other materials which is an oversight that risks placing European producers at a disadvantage compared to global competitors operating under more permissive regulatory regimes.

To address these challenges, Andres calls on EU institutions and Member States to prioritise the reduction of bureaucratic barriers, accelerate permitting processes, and actively foster investment in sustainable mining operations. He further underscores the need for a strong partnership between public authorities and private industry to reinforce Europe’s industrial value chain from resource extraction to advanced manufacturing.

Download the article (in German) below.

An English translation is also available, but as it was translated by a third party, please refer to the original article for full accuracy.