Key EU countries pledge closer cooperation on critical raw materials, reducing dependence will be difficult

On Monday in Berlin, the ministers of France, Germany and Italy pledged closer cooperation on critical raw materials, whose secure supply is essential for the transformation of Europe’s energy sector. The talks also included a discussion of the proposed European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which is currently under consideration. The European Union presented the proposal in March, with the main aim of reducing the EU’s dependence on imports of these resources.

The numerous crises of recent years have shown just how much disruption to international supply chains can affect the functioning of key sectors of the economy. These risks were highlighted by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis in Europe. It is therefore no surprise that the CRMA proposal is currently one of the EU’s hot topics.

"We thought it would be useful for Europe’s three largest economies to exchange views and put forward proposals for changes to the CRMA,"explained German Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck.