The initiative builds on the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and provides financing instruments and measures to limit geopolitical and price risks, promote European and international projects and diversify supply chains with partner countries.
The plan aims to accelerate strategic projects and reduce supply dependencies. It focuses on three areas:
From early 2026, the Commission will establish a European Critical Raw Materials Centre. The Centre will provide market data, support and finance strategic projects with private and public partners, and manage a portfolio of diversified supply chains, including joint purchasing and stockpiling.
A Raw Materials Platform will support companies in aggregating demand, organising joint procurement of strategic raw materials and securing offtake agreements. Work with Member States is underway on a coordinated EU approach to stockpiling, with a pilot scheme planned for early 2026.
To support supply chain resilience in the Single Market, the Action Plan provides for monitoring, crisis coordination and protection against supply disruptions.
To strengthen recycling capacity, the Commission plans to introduce restrictions on exports of scrap and waste from permanent magnets in early 2026, following a technical assessment. Targeted measures for aluminium scrap will be introduced, and further steps for copper scrap will be assessed.
A targeted amendment to the CRMA will expand product labelling requirements and promote the recycling of pre-consumer waste from permanent magnets. Defined shares of recycled content are intended to support EU recycling capacity.
By mid-2026, an additional action plan will promote domestic fertiliser production, recycled nutrients and alternatives to reduce dependency on fertilisers based on critical raw materials.
The Commission will accelerate projects relevant to the EU by mobilising financial de-risking tools and streamlining permitting procedures for Strategic Projects. The aim is to reduce supply dependencies by up to 50% by 2029. Up to EUR 3 billion will be made available over the next 12 months to support projects able to provide alternative supplies in the short term.
The Commission, the European Investment Bank and Member States are preparing financial support for priority projects, including a lithium extraction project in Germany and a molybdenum project in Greenland.
The EU will expand cooperation with partner countries to diversify supply and strengthen industrial cooperation. The Action Plan builds on 15 existing Strategic Partnerships with resource-rich countries, including South Africa. Negotiations with Brazil will be launched.
The EU is developing investment frameworks for integrated raw material value chains with Ukraine, the Western Balkans and the Southern Neighbourhood. Under the Global Gateway initiative, the Commission plans to support investment projects in emerging and developing economies.
The EU supports the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance, the G7 roadmap for standards-based markets and the G20 Critical Minerals Framework to promote the diversification of critical raw material supply.
