EU MEPs agreed their position on the Critical Raw Minerals Act on 14 September, proposing increased focus on supply chain innovation. Ahead of negotiations with the EU Council, Parliament noted that members wanted to push for a stronger focus on research and innovation to identify and upscale substitute materials and production processes to replace raw materials in strategic low-carbon technologies. MEPs also want to set circularity targets to foster the extraction of more strategic raw materials from waste products. Parliament highlighted the importance of securing strategic partnerships between the EU and third countries on critical raw materials to diversify the EU’s supply and benefit all sides. “The course towards European sovereignty and competitiveness has been set,” said Lead MEP Nicola Beer. “Our focus is on reducing bureaucracy, fast and simple approval processes, a research and innovation boost along the entire value chain, and targeted economic incentives for private investors with a view to European production and recycling. The European Parliament is focused on building strategic, equal partnerships with third countries.”
