The Critical Raw Materials Regulation, Net-Zero Industry Act, and Chips Act form the regulatory triptych of European industrial policy.

In it, the EU has set the following targets for 2030:
•    EXTRACTION IN THE EU: at least 10% of the EU's annual consumption is to come from extraction in the EU;
•    PROCESSING IN THE EU: at least 40% of the EU's annual consumption is to come from processing in the EU;
•    RECYCLING IN THE EU: at least 25% of the EU's annual consumption to come from internal recycling;
•    EXTERNAL SOURCES: at most 65% of the annual EU consumption of each strategic raw material at the relevant processing stage is to come from a single third country.
The implementation of the Act should significantly empower the supply of these raw materials from the EU's sources and strategically reduce dependence on single external suppliers in this respect.

First meeting of the European Council on Critical Raw Materials

On 23 May 2024, the first meeting of the European Council on Critical Raw Materials – a new body under the European Commission comprising high-level representatives from individual EU Member States – took place. The Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, the Chief National Geologist, Krzysztof Galos, attended the meeting on behalf of Poland.

The Council is to play a leading role in implementing the new policy framework, supporting the European Commission in selecting and implementing strategic projects, exchanging information on permitting procedures and closed-loop initiatives, and facilitating international cooperation and strategic partnerships on raw materials.
Representatives from all Member States and the European Commission met to discuss conditionalities related to the implementation of the Act. The Council addressed topics including the launch of the first application process for strategic projects, the Council's involvement in deciding on their implementation, sources of funding for projects, international cooperation, monitoring of raw material supply risks and establishing a strategic stockpiling system.

Opening a call for proposals for strategic projects

A key mechanism of the adopted Critical Raw Materials Act is to recognise and support strategic projects along the entire value chain of strategic raw materials.

At its first Council meeting, the Commission invited applications for strategic project status under the European Critical Raw Materials Act.

Comprehensive information, including an application form and a guide for applicants, is on the Strategic Projects website.

Projects involving the extraction, processing, recycling, or substitution of strategic raw materials, crucial elements listed in Annex I of the act, are of significant importance. If such a project meets the criteria set out in Article 6 and Annex III of the CRMA, it can be considered strategic. These strategic projects have the potential to be implemented in the EU and, under specific conditions, in third countries.
The call for proposals is open from 23 May 2024 at 14.00 (CET). The first cut-off date is 22 August 2024 at 12.00 pm (CET). Applications must be prepared according to the instructions on the electronic form.

After the first cut-off date, applications received will be assessed in the following stages:

•    Completeness check (September 2024): The application will be checked for completeness, and promoters will be asked for additional information where appropriate.
•    Evaluation (September 2024 - October 2024): The Commission and the Member States in whose area the project is proposed will evaluate complete applications, and project evaluation reports will be produced.
•    Discussion and decision (Q4 2024): Based on the evaluation, the European Critical Raw Materials Board will discuss the proposed projects and the Commission will decide on the applications, taking into account the Board's opinion, and then notify the applicants.

Sources

REGULATION (EU) 2024 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020
REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe's net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem (Net-Zero Industry Act)
 REGULATION (EU) 2023/1781 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 13 September 2023 on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe's semiconductor ecosystem and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/694 (Chips Act)