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On 22 April 2026, Euromines marked its 30th anniversary with a high-level policy event in Brussels, bringing together EU decision-makers and industry leaders to discuss the future of mining in Europe and its role in supporting Europe’s strategic autonomy, competitiveness, and security.
At a time when Europe’s objective of accelerating its green and industrial transitions is complemented stepping up our defense and security capacity, a central question guided the discussion: how can the EU secure a reliable, responsible, and sustainable supply of raw materials to support for all of these objectives simultaneously?
Speakers:
The event featured contributions from key EU and industry leaders:
- Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission (his speech in English)Â
- Hildegard Bentele, Member of the European Parliament (European People’s Party, DE)
- Brigitte van den Berg, Member of the European Parliament (Renew Europe, NL)
- Jan Moström, President, Euromines
- Mark Rachovides, President Emeritus, Euromines
Key Takeaways:
- Europe’s mining sector is essential for resilience: The mining industry is a strategic pillar in Europe’s raw materials value chain, supporting the continent’s economic resilience, industrial growth, and transition to a sustainable future.
- Global pressures are reshaping the sector: Resource nationalism, global competition, and evolving ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards are transforming the mining landscape. The effectiveness of current measures, such as simplification, project support, energy policy, and demand anchoring, remains uncertain. All these actions must align to create a cost-competitive environment for raw materials production.
- Investment depends on a coherent policy framework: The business case for EU mining hinges on a clear, supportive policy framework. Investment and competitiveness are outcomes of well-designed policy, not goals that can be mandated. Key drivers include efficient permitting processes, energy costs, and an overall ease of doing business.
- Competitiveness thrives on competition: True competitiveness comes from fostering competition, supported by targeted public measures where needed. At the same time, competition rules must reflect global market dynamics, ensuring that Europe can effectively compete on the international stage.
RESourceEU Action Plan and the Future of EU Mining
The RESourceEU Action Plan was highlighted as a key step in turning Europe’s raw materials and strategic autonomy ambitions into concrete policy measures, supporting long-term supply security and industrial competitiveness.
