Brussels, 25 March 2025 – With 47 Strategic Projects selected, this milestone marks a significant step toward fostering a more resilient and secure supply of the critical raw materials essential for Europe’s green and digital transitions, as well as the aerospace and defence sectors.
The selected strategic projects listed link, aim to contribute to the stability and security of Europe’s industrial supply chains while fostering responsible mining, processing, and recycling. This aligns with the broader objective of reducing strategic dependencies and enhancing economic resilience of the European bloc.
“Raw materials are essential to Europe’s industrial strength, enabling modern technologies, clean energy solutions, and both economic and defence resilience. To make these strategic projects a success, we must deliver efficient permitting, investment incentives, and innovation-driven solutions. Europe must be honest about its raw materials needs and its own contribution to sustain strategic value chains.” – Rolf Kuby, Euromines Director General.
As the official list of strategic projects is published today, Euromines will continue to advocate for policies that support investment in domestic raw material production, innovation in extraction and processing technologies, and the highest environmental and social standards in the industry. Euromines calls on Member States and related national authorities to speed up permitting procedures. Only with the strong commitment of all involved actors including civil society this list of strategic represent success.
- A realistic extension of the deadline for achieving good water status.
- Amendments to the “no further deterioration” requirement, which is currently difficult to meet under existing strict interpretations.
- Support for maintaining the current legislative process under Article 16 regarding strategies against water pollution, ensuring a more transparent and inclusive review process.
- Stronger safeguards for industrial projects, ensuring the future sustainability of European extractive industries while maintaining high environmental standards.
Media contact: Anna Zanetti (zanetti@euromines.be)
Download the press release below.