The European Court of Auditors (ECA) warns that the EU struggles to secure critical raw materials needed for its energy and climate goals. Despite the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act adopted in 2024, efforts to diversify imports, boost domestic production, and enhance recycling remain insufficient. The report highlights that 7 out of 26 materials required for renewable technologies have recycling rates below 5%, while 10 are not recycled at all. Import diversification efforts, including 14 strategic partnerships, have not yielded tangible results, with imports from partner countries declining for half the materials examined. Domestic extraction faces hurdles, including underdeveloped exploration and lengthy project timelines. The ECA cautions that meeting 2030 targets for recycled material use and processing capacity is unlikely, risking delays in the EU’s energy transition.
© European Union, 1996‑ – Source: European Court of Auditors (https://www.eca.europa.eu ).
Adapted under CC BY‑4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/news/NEWS-SR-2026-04
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