EU remains on track for 2030 critical raw materials goals: EC deputy DG

The EU remains on track to meet its 2030 targets for securing critical raw materials, despite significant implementation challenges ahead, a senior EU official said May 20.

The remarks come as the EU implements the Critical Raw Materials Act, adopted in 2024, to strengthen the continent's supply chains and reduce reliance on imports from third countries. The Act sets ambitious 2030 targets for domestic extraction, processing, and recycling of key materials and encourages public-private partnerships to support investment in critical sectors.

Speaking at the EIT Critical Raw Materials Summit in Brussels, Valere Moutarlier, deputy director general for internal market, industry, and entrepreneurship (DG GROW) at the European Commission, expressed confidence that the bloc's ambitious goals are within reach.

Moutarlier pointed to the comprehensive regulatory framework established by the Critical Raw Materials Act and the identification of 60 strategic projects spanning the value chain.

"We have to go beyond a more populist way of opposing efficiency and the regulator," he said, defending the EU's regulatory approach while acknowledging the need to accelerate implementation.

Moutarlier noted that Europe's starting point was particularly challenging, having lost much of its mining and processing capacity over recent decades. However, he emphasized that the focus has now shifted from policy development to execution, with the first strategic projects expected to come online in 2027–2028.

Addressing criticism that the EU's regulatory environment creates excessive bureaucracy, Moutarlier argued that clear rules are essential for providing the legal certainty needed to attract long-term investment.

"I would challenge any of you in the private sphere: when you have a deal, how many pages do you need to craft the agreement? I don't think our regulations are thicker than most of your contracts," he said.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts to streamline regulations through 'omnibus' packages and measures to accelerate permitting, including digitalization, one-stop shops, and the reduction of duplication. Moutarlier noted that many EU member states have strong track records in mining, processing, and recycling and are well-versed in operating in accordance with EU standards.

Showcasing member-state leadership, Moutarlier cited Finland's Keliber lithium project and France's rare-earth initiatives as evidence of political will to advance strategic autonomy in sectors such as batteries, defense, and advanced materials.

"This is why we top up our regulatory environment with simplification -- omnibus. We're working ... on accelerating permitting in a way that remains acceptable to the public," he said.

Moutarlier concluded by emphasizing that Europe's agenda marks a fundamental shift, with member states taking significant risks to achieve strategic sovereignty over critical raw materials. "We equally have to speed up because we have little time. I think that we are all convinced that we have little time," he added.

CRMA targets

Approved by the EU Council on March 19, the CRMA requires that EU capacities along the strategic raw material supply chain source at least 10% of mined material from the EU, process at least 40% of that locally, and use 25% recycled material. The regulation also requires that no more than 65% of the EU's annual consumption of each strategic raw material at any relevant stage of processing should come from a single third country.

In April, the European Court of Auditors, the top audit institution of the EU, warned that the EU risks falling short of its CRMA targets because it remains heavily reliant on imports and has made limited progress in scaling domestic production, refining and recycling.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed CIF Europe battery-grade lithium carbonate at $23,000/metric ton May 19, stable day over day and week over week. The lithium hydroxide assessment remained stable at $22,000/mt.