The European Metals Association has expressed strong support for the objectives of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), aimed at enhancing the resilience and sustainability of Europe’s raw materials value chains. The association welcomes the establishment of an EU Critical Raw Materials Centre, which is intended to provide crucial support for projects related to critical raw materials (CRMs). This includes diversifying supply, offering financial and technical assistance, pooling demand, and providing market intelligence focused on ensuring supply security.
In its response to a public consultation, the European Metals Association outlined several key recommendations for the CRM Centre. These include the need for robust market intelligence capabilities to monitor the dynamics of critical raw materials markets and the downstream demand from European industries. The association advocates for the Centre to operate as an independent body, equipped with the necessary financial tools to facilitate CRM investments in close collaboration with member states and industry stakeholders. Additionally, they stress the importance of strategic stockpiling, which should be risk-based and developed in cooperation with industry, ensuring that it does not distort market conditions.
The association also highlighted the necessity of a dedicated Critical Raw Materials Fund, which should combine various financial instruments to support both existing industrial bases and new strategic projects across the CRM value chain. Furthermore, they called for improved regulatory coherence across EU legislation to eliminate barriers that hinder investment in the raw materials sector. The European Metals Association’s comprehensive recommendations aim to strengthen the EU’s critical raw materials value chain, ensuring that Europe can secure its supply of essential materials amidst growing global demand and geopolitical challenges.
