For the first time, the European Commission has approved a list of 47 Strategic Projects aimed at enhancing the EU’s capabilities in extracting, processing, and recycling critical

raw materials. These projects are a key step in implementing the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which targets meeting 10% of the EU’s demand through extraction, 40% through processing, and 25% through recycling of strategic raw materials by 2030.

The selected projects will support Europe's green and digital transitions, while also bolstering the defence and aerospace industries.

Strategic projects across the EU

The 47 projects span 13 EU Member States: Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Estonia, Czechia, Greece, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Poland, and Romania.

They cover multiple stages of the raw material supply chain:

- 25 projects involve extraction

- 24 projects focus on processing

- 10 projects center on recycling

- 2 projects target the substitution of raw materials

The projects address 14 out of 17 strategic raw materials listed under the CRMA. Key materials covered include:

- Lithium (22 projects)

- Nickel (12)

- Cobalt (10)

- Graphite (11)

- Manganese (7)

These projects are expected to fully meet the EU’s 2030 benchmarks for lithium and cobalt, while making significant progress on graphite, nickel, and manganese. Other efforts include projects for magnesium and tungsten, which are essential for the defence sector.

Support and investment

The selected projects represent a combined €22.5 billion in capital investment. They will benefit from:

EU-level coordination to facilitate financing and industry connections

Streamlined permitting processes—limited to 27 months for extraction and 15 months for other projects, a significant improvement over current 5–10 year timelines

Support from Member States and financial institutions

To qualify, projects had to meet environmental, social, and governance standards and demonstrate technical viability and EU-wide benefits.

Background and next steps

The CRMA took effect on 23 May 2024, alongside a call for project proposals. After a thorough review by the Commission and external experts, and consultations with the Critical Raw Materials Board and the European Parliament, the 47 projects were officially selected in March 2025.

Applications from non-EU countries are still under review, with decisions expected later. A new call for Strategic Projects is scheduled for late summer 2025.