The CRMA Regulation was adopted on 18 March, and it is waiting for publication. This regulation aims to enhance the supply in Europe of raw materials crucial for the production of green technologies, such as electric cars, solar panels and smartphones. Specifically, the law seeks to bolster supply of strategic raw materials by establishing economic incentives and a more stable, secure business framework for mining and recycling projects, with faster and simpler authorisation procedures.
The final text identifies two lists of materials (34 critical and 17 strategic) crucial for the green and digital transitions, as well as for the defence and space industries.
It establishes three benchmarks for the EU’s annual consumption of raw materials:
• 10% from local extraction
• 40% to be processed in the EU
• 25% to come from recycled materials
Extraction projects will receive permits within a maximum period of 27 months, while recycling and processing projects should receive permits within 15 months, with limited exceptions aimed at ensuring meaningful engagement with affected local communities and conducting proper environmental impact assessments in complex cases.
Large companies manufacturing strategic technologies (e.g. producers of batteries, hydrogen or renewable generators) will be required to conduct a risk assessment of their raw materials’ supply chain. This includes mapping the extraction, processing, or recycling of strategic raw materials; analysing factors affecting their supply; and assessing vulnerabilities to supply disruptions. A “large company” is defined as one with more than 500 employees on average and a net worldwide turnover of more than €150 million in the last financial year.