CRMA Strategic Projects and RESourceEU Action Plan

 

The European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which entered into force in May 2024, is designed to strengthen Europe's security of supply for critical and strategic minerals needed for the energy transition, digital technologies, defence, and industrial competitiveness. By 2030, the EU aims to source at least 10% of its consumption through domestic extraction, 40% through EU processing, and 25% through recycling, while reducing dependence on any single third country to below 65%. 

First Call: Approved Strategic Projects (2025)

The first CRMA selection round resulted in the designation of 60 Strategic Projects:

• 47 projects located in the EU (approved in March 2025) 

• 13 projects located in third countries and overseas territories (approved in June 2025) 

These projects span extraction, processing, recycling, and substitution activities and cover 14 strategic minerals, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, rare earth elements, copper, tungsten, and magnesium. Together they represent approximately €22.5 billion of investment and are expected to play a major role in achieving the CRMA's 2030 targets. 

Particular emphasis is placed on minerals essential for batteries and clean technologies:

• 22 lithium projects 

• 12 nickel projects 

• 10 cobalt projects 

• 11 graphite projects 

These projects are expected to enable the EU to meet its lithium and cobalt targets and significantly improve supply security for other strategic minerals. 

Second Call: Project Proposals (2025–2026)

The second CRMA call closed in January 2026 and attracted more than 160 applications, demonstrating strong market confidence in the CRMA framework. 

The application profile highlights the growing importance of strategic value chains:

• 75 applications relate to the battery value chain, making it the dominant category. 

• 21 applications focus on rare earth elements for permanent magnets, critical for wind turbines, electric vehicles, and defence technologies. 

• Additional proposals address defence-related minerals and other strategic raw materials. 

Geographically:

• 95 applications originated within the EU. 

• 66 applications came from outside the EU. 

• 40 applications were submitted from countries with which the EU has strategic raw materials partnerships. 

All proposals are undergoing technical assessment by independent experts before final selection. 

RESourceEU Action Plan

The RESourceEU Action Plan was launched to accelerate the implementation of the CRMA and ensure the rapid delivery of strategic projects. It responds to increasing geopolitical risks, concentrated supply chains, and rising demand for critical minerals. 

Key objectives include:

• Accelerating strategic project deployment through faster permitting and regulatory support. 

• Mobilising financing via EU funds, Member States, and the European Investment Bank. 

• Strengthening international partnerships to diversify supply sources. 

• Enhancing resilience and crisis preparedness through monitoring, stress testing, and coordinated response mechanisms. 

A central feature is the use of the Internal Market Emergency and Resilience Act (IMERA) toolbox, enabling the EU to monitor supply chains, identify shortages, coordinate stockpiles, organise joint purchasing, and respond collectively to disruptions. 

Key Takeaway

The first CRMA round established a portfolio of 60 strategic projects worth €22.5 billion to strengthen Europe's mineral supply chains. The second round shows even stronger momentum, with battery materials and rare earth magnets emerging as the dominant priorities. Supported by the RESourceEU Action Plan, the EU is moving from policy design to implementation, seeking to build a more resilient, diversified, and secure critical minerals ecosystem for Europe's industrial and economic future

In summary

The Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) is a cornerstone of the EU's strategy to secure a resilient and sustainable supply of critical minerals needed for the energy transition, digital technologies, defence and industrial competitiveness. In the first selection round, the European Commission designated 60 Strategic Projects, including 47 in the EU and 13 in partner countries and overseas territories, covering key minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements. These projects are expected to strengthen European supply chains and support the EU's 2030 objectives for extraction, processing and recycling.

The second call for Strategic Projects, which closed in January 2026, attracted more than 160 applications, demonstrating strong industry interest. The battery value chain emerged as the dominant focus, accounting for 75 applications, while 21 projects targeted rare earth elements for permanent magnets, which are essential for wind turbines, electric vehicles and defence technologies. Applications came from both EU and non-EU countries, reflecting the global importance of securing strategic mineral supplies.

To accelerate implementation, the European Commission launched the RESourceEU Action Plan, which supports Strategic Projects through faster permitting, improved access to financing, stronger international partnerships and enhanced supply chain resilience. The Action Plan also leverages the Internal Market Emergency and Resilience Act (IMERA) toolbox to monitor critical mineral supply chains, coordinate responses to disruptions and strengthen Europe's economic security. Together, the CRMA, Strategic Projects and RESourceEU Action Plan form a comprehensive framework to reduce dependencies, diversify supply sources and build a more secure and competitive European minerals ecosystem.