On 4 February, the European Union (EU), the United States (US) and Japan announced their intention to deepen cooperation in the critical raw materials (CRMs) sector at a Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted in Washington D.C., which brought together representatives from more than 50 countries. The initiative reflects governments’ growing concerns over supply chain dependencies and the EU’s reliance on China, which currently controls around 70 % of the global supply of critical raw materials.

Despite tensions between the US and EU Member States since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the EU committed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the US to strengthen the security of the critical minerals supply chain. The agreement will include measures to diversify supply, stimulate demand, and identify joint projects in mining, refining, processing and recycling, with targeted support to ensure resilience. It will also aim to prevent supply chain disruptions, accelerate information exchange, and promote research and innovation.

On the same day, the United Kingdom announced a similar deal with the US, aiming to reduce dependence on subsidised imports and address market distortions caused by unfair practices that undermine domestic production. In response to concerns over potential export restrictions by China, the US has now signed comparable agreements with more than ten countries, including Mexico and Morocco, and launched "Project Vault", a critical mineral reserve worth nearly $12 billion.

Meanwhile, the EU continues to advance its own initiatives to increase its share of the global CRM supply chain, as highlighted by the European Court of Auditors, which warned that the EU still faces challenges in securing the materials necessary to meet its energy and climate objectives. These ambitions are further complicated by climate considerations and social acceptance challenges.

A recent example is the Barroso lithium mine in Portugal’s Trás-os-Montes region, located within a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System designated by the United Nations. The mine was granted strategic project status under the Critical Raw Materials Act last March, giving it access to accelerated permitting and easier financing. However, environmental and community organisations, including ClientEarth, filed a case with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on 5 February, challenging the European Commission’s approval and citing environmental, social and safety concerns. The dispute echoes protests in Serbia last year against a lithium mine in the Jadar Valley, which drew thousands of demonstrators, highlighting that public resistance to mining projects is not limited to EU territory.

Against this backdrop, EERA’s role in highlighting research and innovation opportunities, including materials efficiency, recycling, and substitution, remains critical for ensuring EU competitiveness and supply chain independence while also supporting social acceptance and environmental protection.