The European Commission has selected 13 strategic raw materials projects outside the European Union as part of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), adding to the 47 projects already approved within the EU in March. The 60 projects together aim to secure reliable access to critical raw materials essential for European industries, particularly in electromobility and renewable energy.
Announced on Thursday, the 13 third-country projects were chosen from 46 applications received last year and mark the first wave of the CRMA’s implementation since it came into force in May 2024. Nearly a third of those external applications have now been approved, reflecting a concerted effort to diversify supply chains and reduce EU dependence on single sources.
Most of the new projects focus on battery materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite, with two projects targeting rare earth elements used in electric motors. These initiatives are located across a range of countries where the EU already holds strategic partnerships, including Canada, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Norway, Serbia, Ukraine, and Zambia. Other selected projects are situated in Brazil, Madagascar, Malawi, New Caledonia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
With the “selected project” status, these initiatives benefit from coordinated support involving EU institutions, member states, and financial bodies, easing access to funding and facilitating connections to European industrial customers. The combined investment required to bring the 13 external projects online is estimated at €5.5 billion.
The Commission emphasized that all projects underwent rigorous evaluation by independent experts to meet stringent environmental, social, and governance standards, alongside technical feasibility criteria. Projects must also demonstrate mutual benefits for both the EU and host countries, including securing offtake agreements with European downstream industries to strengthen supply security.
Inside the EU, 47 strategic raw materials projects span 13 member states and cover mining, processing, recycling, and substitution activities. These projects target 14 of the 17 critical raw materials listed under the CRMA, with particular focus on lithium (22 projects), nickel (12), cobalt (10), manganese (7), and graphite (11) — all crucial for battery production. The total investment for these internal projects is estimated at €22.5 billion.
The CRMA also aims to speed up approval processes for raw materials projects. Previously, authorizations could take five to ten years, but under the new regulation, mining projects will be approved within 27 months, and other projects within 15 months, accelerating Europe’s raw materials autonomy.
Of the 13 projects selected outside the EU, nine focus on extraction, one combines extraction and processing in Greenland, and three involve processing activities. The Commission pledged to strengthen cooperation with partner countries to support project development and ensure sustainable value chains.