RESourceEU Action Plan

Country / jurisdiction: European Union · Year: 2025 · Status: In force · Level: National · Type: Voluntary

On 3 December 2025, the European Commission adopted the ReSourceEU Action Plan to accelerate the implementation of the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), reduce strategic dependencies, and strengthen economic security. While it supports all critical raw materials, the immediate priority is rare earth permanent magnets, battery raw materials, and defence-related raw materials. These are essential for Europe’s competitiveness, clean energy and digital transitions, and defence readiness.

European Critical Raw Materials Centre

The Commission will establish a Centre in 2026 to provide strategic oversight, intelligence on CRM markets, and coordination of investment, stockpiling, and joint purchasing. It will act as a portfolio manager for EU and global projects, monitor development cycles, and ensure rapid ramp-up of operations. The Centre will also manage strategic stockpiles and joint purchasing to support EU industry resilience.

CRM Financing Hub

A multi-pillar financing hub will mobilise EUR 3 billion in EU funds within 12 months to accelerate priority projects. It will coordinate fragmented funding sources and provide technical assistance. Key instruments include: InvestEU for de-risking

Innovation Fund (EUR 1 billion for clean tech manufacturing in 2025)

Battery Booster (EUR 1.8 billion, up to EUR 300 million for CRM projects)

EIB loans and advisory support (up to EUR 2 billion/year)

Global Gateway and EFSD+ guarantees

De-risking tools such as Contracts for Difference will incentivise offtake agreements and long-term viability.

International Partnerships

The EU will operationalise partnerships with 15 countries (e.g., Canada, Australia, Chile, DRC, Kazakhstan) through a pipeline of 60 projects. Support will include Horizon Europe (EUR 300 million for R&I), Global Gateway instruments, and technical assistance to ensure local value creation and secure EU offtakes.

Permitting Acceleration

Member States must enforce CRMA timelines (27 months for extraction, 15 months for processing/recycling) and set up Single Points of Contact. The Commission will propose legislative changes and issue guidance to simplify environmental permitting by Q1 2026.

Circularity and Recycling

Measures include: Restrictions on exports of permanent magnet scrap by Q2 2026

Ban on black mass exports to non-OECD countries from September 2026

Targeted actions on aluminium and copper scrap

Amendments to CRMA to require declarations of recycled content from pre- and post-consumer waste

Enhanced collection of e-waste and end-of-life vehicles under the Circular Economy Act

Innovation and Substitution

Horizon Europe will allocate EUR 593 million (2026–2027) for CRM technologies and resource efficiency. The European Innovation Council will provide EUR 100 million blended finance for advanced materials and CRM value chain projects. Defence-related innovation will be supported through the European Defence Fund.

Market Creation and Demand Aggregation

The EU Energy and Raw Materials Platform - Raw Materials Mechanism will enable joint purchasing and matchmaking between buyers and suppliers starting March 2026. The Commission will explore mechanisms such as price floors to unlock investments and incentivise diversification.

Stimulating Diversification and Stockpiling

Large companies will be required to assess supply chain risks and adopt diversification measures. A pilot project on CRM stockpiling will start in early 2026, later integrated into the Centre’s operations.

Single Market Protection and Resilience

The Commission will use the Internal Market Emergency Resilience Act (IMERA), toolbox to respond to supply disruptions and integrate CRMA Strategic Projects into the Foreign Direct Investment Regulation for security screening. It will also advance G7-led standards-based markets to drive supply chain traceability and transparency while setting out environmental, social and governance criteria to build reliable and secure premium markets for critical minerals and develop trade instruments to counter non-market practices.

International Collaboration

The EU will expand its diplomatic agenda, negotiate new partnerships (e.g., Brazil), and leverage multilateral initiatives such as the G20 Critical Minerals Framework and the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance to secure diversified supply chains.

Official source: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/document/download/01c448d6-dc93-40d7-9afe-4c2af448d00c_en