Four Members of the European Parliament from the Green/EFA group have accused the European Commission of bypassing transparency in its fast-track process for approving strategic critical raw material (CRM) mining projects. The MEPs say the Commission has refused to disclose impact assessments, kept expert identities confidential, and withheld the exact locations of several major projects—even those granted strategic status under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).
Despite multiple formal requests, the MEPs received only publicly available summaries, without access to details about projects such as Mina Doade in Spain, Barroso in Portugal, Sakatti in Finland, a lithium facility in France, and major overseas initiatives in Serbia and New Caledonia. A letter demanding transparency was sent to the Commission in May, followed by what the MEPs describe as a vague and insufficient reply.
The European Commission has defended its actions, citing Article 46 of the CRMA, which permits the withholding of trade secrets and private information related to external experts. However, critics argue that this undermines the democratic oversight process and turns the CRM Board—tasked with overseeing implementation—into a powerless body.
Across Europe, opposition to mining projects is intensifying. In France and Finland, local communities are pushing back against operations near protected areas, such as Natura 2000 sites. In Serbia, protests continue against the controversial Jadar lithium project. Environmental groups warn that accelerating mining approvals without reducing material demand or securing public consent risks serious ecological and social consequences.
While the EU intensifies efforts to secure domestic sources of lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, concerns are growing that the drive for speed and supply security is coming at the cost of transparency and public trust.
