A credible and strategic raw materials policy is necessary

The EPP Group wants the EU to think and act strategically, coherently and globally to secure and improve access to raw materials for Europe.

Today, the European Parliament will adopt its position on the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act, an important step towards a more strategic treatment of Europe's critical raw material needs.

"Without access to critical raw materials, the digital and green transition will not work. There will be no e-mobility without batteries, and there won't be more batteries without more lithium. A credible and strategic raw materials policy must increase our supply from reliable sources. If we don't act now, soon, it may be too late - to the detriment of our climate targets and to the detriment of a future-oriented and competitive European industrial policy", Hildegard Bentele MEP, the EPP Group's lead negotiator for the Critical Raw Materials Act, said.

The EPP Group shaped Parliament's position on this important legislation. "We've achieved faster licensing procedures, more flexibility for the list of critical raw materials, prevented additional restrictions for domestic mining and included a better recycling and waste management policy. With the Critical Raw Materials Act, we will be able to act faster in case of supply bottlenecks. We also want more stable and mutually beneficial raw material partnerships with reliable third countries and a closer look at the owner structure for EU-funded projects. Monitoring and stress testing for companies is also improved", Bentele concluded.

After today's vote, trilogues between the European Parliament and Member States are already due to start next Wednesday.