The European Union has announced support for 46 new strategic projects to secure supplies of critical raw materials by 2030, as industry commissioner Stéphane Séjourné says the bloc is working to avoid an imminent trade crisis with China.
Key facts
- The EU is backing 46 new strategic projects for critical raw materials.
- The projects aim to accelerate supplies by 2030 across the bloc.
- Projects include lithium and rare earths plants.
- Industry commissioner Stéphane Séjourné said the EU is 'pulling out all the stops'.
- The move is framed as an effort to fend off a potential trade crisis with China.
The European Union is moving to shore up its supplies of critical raw materials as it tries to head off a potential trade crisis with China, the bloc’s industry commissioner, Stéphane Séjourné, said on Friday.
Séjourné said the EU is ‘pulling out all the stops’ to fend off what he described as an imminent potential trade conflict, according to the Guardian. The comments came as Brussels announced its backing for a string of critical materials projects across the bloc.
The EU said it would support 46 new strategic projects designed to accelerate supplies of critical raw materials by 2030. The projects span the member states and are intended to strengthen the bloc’s access to materials seen as essential for its industries.
Among the projects are lithium and rare earths plants, the Guardian reported. Both materials are central to key industrial supply chains, including those underpinning batteries and electronics.
The announcement reflects the EU’s broader push to reduce its dependence on external suppliers for strategically important materials, as tensions with China over trade continue to mount.
Why it matters
Critical raw materials such as lithium and rare earths are essential to batteries, electronics and other modern industries, and supply disruptions can ripple across the economy. By backing dozens of domestic projects, the EU is signalling it wants greater control over these supply chains as trade tensions with China rise.
Frequently asked questions
How many projects is the EU supporting?
The EU announced its backing for 46 new strategic projects to accelerate supplies of critical raw materials, according to the Guardian.
What kinds of projects are included?
The projects include lithium and rare earths plants, among other critical materials projects across the bloc.
What is the timeline for these projects?
The EU said the projects are aimed at accelerating supplies of critical raw materials by 2030.