The global competition for critical raw materials is increasingly becoming a geopolitical battle for economic and industrial power, a senior European Commission official warned on Wednesday, as the European Union seeks to reduce its heavy dependence on China.
Speaking at the EIT RawMaterials Summit in Brussels, Koen Doens, head of the European Commission’s department for international partnerships, said control over critical minerals now extends far beyond mining and includes refining, processing, transport, financing, and industrial manufacturing capacity.
Doens argued that minerals such as lithium, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements now hold the same strategic importance that oil and gas carried during the 20th century. He described investment in secure supply chains as essential to Europe’s long-term economic resilience and strategic autonomy.
The comments come as the EU continues efforts to diversify supplies of critical raw materials needed for clean technologies including batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines. Recent warnings from EU auditors suggested the bloc’s energy transition could be jeopardised by its continued dependence on China for key materials and processing capacity.
Under legislation adopted in 2024, the EU set targets to meet 10% of its extraction, 40% of refining, and 15% of recycling needs domestically by 2030. However, the bloc still relies heavily on foreign partners for access to many strategic minerals, particularly rare earth elements not available within Europe.
To reduce vulnerabilities, the EU has signed 16 international partnerships with countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Zambia, and the United States through its Global Gateway initiative, which aims to strengthen Europe’s global infrastructure and resource ties while competing with China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Doens warned that Europe can no longer rely solely on market forces to guarantee secure access to raw materials and stressed that the bloc must also develop refining, processing, and manufacturing capabilities rather than focusing only on extraction.
China currently dominates the global critical raw materials supply chain, accounting for around 60% of production and approximately 90% of refining capacity worldwide. According to European Parliament research, the EU depends on China for roughly 90% of its raw materials supply and 98% of its rare-earth magnets. Beijing has repeatedly imposed restrictions on rare earth exports in recent years, including in 2025.
A recent paper by the European Union Institute for Security Studies proposed forming an “allied industrial bloc” with non-rival countries such as Malaysia, Brazil, Indonesia, India, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to reduce exposure to Chinese leverage. The study also called for major investment in European refining infrastructure and strategic mineral reserves similar to emergency oil stockpiles.
The debate has intensified around proposals to speed up mining and processing approvals within Europe. The European Commission recently suggested reopening parts of the EU Water Framework Directive as part of a broader strategy to accelerate critical raw materials projects and reduce supply risks.
The move triggered criticism from environmental groups and lawmakers concerned that weakening water protections could worsen water stress, environmental degradation, and climate-related risks. In a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, 27 lawmakers warned that reopening core environmental legislation could undermine public confidence and legal certainty.
Despite the criticism, the Commission signalled it intends to continue simplifying regulations to boost industrial competitiveness and accelerate strategic projects across the bloc.
