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Raw materials are crucial to Europe’s economy and essential to maintaining and improving our quality of life. Securing reliable and unhindered access to certain raw materials is a growing concern within the EU and across the globe. To address this challenge, the European Commission has drawn up a list of 27 Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), which were selected based on their economic importance to the EU and supply risk. The listing of these 27 materials not only demonstrates the essential role they play in the wider European economy, but also recognises their crucial role in the EU’s so-called mega-sectors: automotive, metals, aerospace, IT and electrical engineering.
According to the European Commission, this list of critical raw materials should:
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Include the EU’s industrial policy and strengthen industrial competitiveness
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Stimulate the production of CRMs and the launch of new mining activities in the EU
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Prioritise actions, negotiate trade agreements, challenge trade distortion measures, and promote research and innovation.
Given the European Parliament’s crucial role in the EU’s decision-making process, the MEP Interest Group on Critical Raw Materials was formed, at the request of Prof. Carlos Zorrinho MEP. This interest group, coordinated by the Critical Raw Materials Alliance, brings together like-minded MEPs from a cross party basis to discuss the many pressing issues facing CRMs.
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