The Centre will assist Member States in developing exploration plans and streamlining permitting processes for critical raw materials.
The International Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Resource Management (ICE-SRM EU) officially launched last week to support Europe’s critical raw material policies. Hosted by the Geological Survey of Slovenia and coordinated by EuroGeoSurveys, the Centre is set to play a pivotal role in supporting the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which came into force in 2024.
The legislation aims to strengthen the EU’s domestic supply and enhance the resilience of critical mineral supply chains through ambitious goals: By 2030, the EU targets 10% of annual consumption from domestic mining, 40% of processing to occur within the EU, 25% of supply from recycling, and no more than 65% dependence on a single third country for any strategic material.
To help meet these goals, the Centre will assist member states in developing national exploration plans, streamlining permitting procedures, and adopting harmonized resource classification systems. According to the Centre, its work will also focus on identifying the reasons why data gaps exist in Europe’s geographical coverage and seeking possibilities to close them.
Photo: iStock/kokouu
