In the first call, 60 projects were already selected. Under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, these projects can benefit from faster approvals and easier access to funding.
The Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which came into effect in 2024, aims to secure the EU’s supply of raw materials on a more reliable basis. Alongside targets for domestic mining, strategic projects are a core element of the legislation. These initiatives, covering extraction, processing, recycling, or substitution of critical raw materials, can benefit from accelerated permitting procedures and support in accessing finance.
In 2025, 60 projects were selected both within the EU and abroad. The second call has now closed, with the European Commission reporting that over 160 applications have been submitted. In the first round, there had been 170 applications. The consistently high number of submissions highlights the continued interest in achieving “Strategic Project” status, according to the Commission. The December launch of the RESourceEU plan, which, for the first time, specified a concrete funding amount—further increased attention.
Of the submitted projects, 75 focus on the battery value chain, 21 on rare earths for permanent magnets, and several are linked to defense applications. Overall, 95 applications come from EU countries and 66 from non-EU countries.
All projects will now be evaluated with the input of independent experts before the Commission discusses the results with the member states.
Photo: dem10, irasutoya via Canva; Montage: rawmaterials.net