The European Commission has announced the launch of its second call for strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), aimed at securing a sustainable and resilient supply of critical raw materials essential for Europe’s green and digital transitions.
Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, made the announcement today in Kiruna, Sweden. Building on the success of the first call, which selected 60 projects, the new call invites promoters to submit proposals before the cut-off date of 15 January 2026 at 12:00 CET. An online information session will take place on 9 October to guide interested applicants.
To qualify, projects must meaningfully enhance the EU’s supply security, demonstrate technical feasibility, and ensure sustainable implementation. Selected projects will benefit from fast-tracked permitting, improved access to financing, and facilitated offtake agreements.
“These projects show how the EU can boost domestic extraction, refining, processing, and recycling, while deepening partnerships with third countries,” Séjourné said. “This is another key step towards European sovereignty by reducing dependencies and strengthening our economic security.”
The call covers all 17 critical raw materials designated as strategic under the CRMA, including lithium, rare earth elements, cobalt, nickel, and tungsten. The initiative underscores the EU’s commitment to diversifying supply chains and reducing reliance on dominant global suppliers.
