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Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Areas of specific interest

The European Commission pays special attention to securing a sustainable supply of critical raw materials and rare earths to EU’s industry. It also aims to provide a one-stop-shop for all information on raw materials in the EU and ensure the development of new high skills.

Critical raw materials

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 created a list of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs).

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Rare earth elements, permanent magnets, and motors

The rare earth elements value chain is of particular significance for the twin green and digital transition to achieve the EU’s Green Deal objective.

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European Union Raw Materials Knowledge Base

The European Union Raw Materials Knowledge Base (EURMKB) is a part of the European Innovation Partnership’s Strategic Implementation Plan. Its aim is to be a one-stop-shop for all information on raw materials in the EU.

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Trade in raw materials

The sustainable and unhindered access to raw materials is one of the pillars of the EU’s strategy for raw materials. Many non-EU countries apply measures such as export taxes, import duties, or price-fixing, which distort free and transparent markets.

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Raw materials diplomacy

Access to raw materials on global markets is one of the European Commission’s priorities. In the first pillar of the EU Raw Materials Strategy the EU has committed to pursuing Raw Materials Diplomacy by reaching out to non-EU countries through strategic partnerships and policy dialogues.

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Skills and education

The raw materials industries are facing increasing skills shortage, mostly due to limited public awareness of the importance of raw materials for European society and the economy.

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