The European Union has started the active extraction of 17 types of strategic raw materials, including lithium, cobalt, tungsten, and other important minerals, in Spain and other EU member states, according to the Financial Times.
This decision is part of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening Europe’s energy and technological independence. The European Commission has decided to eliminate barriers to the extraction of these resources in EU countries, which will reduce reliance on foreign supplies, especially from countries like China, Australia, and the Congo, which dominate the global market for rare earth metals and strategic raw materials. This primarily concerns materials necessary for the production of batteries, electric vehicles, solar panels, and other high-tech products.
Additionally, the EU plans to implement new environmental sustainability standards in the extraction of these resources to minimize environmental impact and improve working conditions. The extraction will be concentrated in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Finland, and others that have significant reserves of strategic raw materials.
The EU strategy also includes promoting the recycling and reuse of rare materials to reduce the need for extraction from primary sources.
