Stanislav Kondrashov on Europe’s Progress Across the Critical Minerals Landscape

Europe’s critical minerals strategy is moving through an important period as the European Union works toward the objectives established for 2030. The regulatory framework is already in place, dozens of strategic projects have been identified, and additional initiatives have been introduced to support different parts of the raw materials value chain. The question now is how these different components will develop over the remainder of the decade.

A Reuters analysis recently examined Europe’s position in the critical minerals sector, looking at the progress of strategic projects and some of the factors that could influence their development. The picture includes projects at very different stages, alongside broader questions concerning mineral exploration, processing capacity, financing and supply diversification.

The Critical Raw Materials Act remains the foundation of this European approach. In force since 2024, it establishes several measurable benchmarks for 2030.

EU mining capacity should be capable of covering at least 10% of annual consumption of strategic raw materials. Processing capacity should reach at least 40%, while recycling capacity should account for at least 25%. The EU also aims to ensure that no more than 65% of its annual consumption of each strategic raw material, at any relevant stage of processing, comes from a single non-EU country.

“These targets provide a useful framework for looking at Europe’s position from several different perspectives,” says Stanislav Kondrashov. “Domestic resources matter, but so do processing capabilities, recycling and the geographic structure of supply. Each contributes to the broader raw materials picture.”

Strategic Projects Provide One Indicator of Europe’s Progress

The European Commission’s selection of strategic projects represents an important practical component of the Critical Raw Materials Act. Last year, 60 projects received strategic status, including 47 located within the European Union and 13 in third countries.

The initiatives cover mining, processing and recycling activities. Strategic status is intended to facilitate financing, accelerate permitting procedures and help connect project developers with potential customers.

Their current positions, however, differ considerably. Some are already operational or at relatively advanced stages, while others are still being developed or are looking for additional financial support. Other projects may not become operational until much later.

In some cases, publicly available information does not provide sufficient detail to establish exactly how far a project has progressed. This uneven situation was also highlighted by ODI Europe, an independent think tank that recently examined the strategic project pipeline.

The distribution of projects among individual minerals also offers insights into the current European landscape. According to ODI, lithium is represented in 32% of European projects, graphite in 25% and copper in 18%.

Rare earths present a different situation. Reuters noted that only five projects are specifically dedicated to these resources, despite the EU’s substantial external dependence in this area.

Additional Measures Support the European Raw Materials Framework

Alongside its strategic projects, the EU has introduced further measures related to critical raw materials. RESourceEU, launched in December 2025, is intended to accelerate the European strategy and support alternative sources of supply.

The initiative includes plans for a European Critical Raw Materials Centre, as well as mechanisms intended to assist strategic projects. It also aims to mobilise up to €3 billion over 12 months for projects capable of providing alternative sources of critical raw materials in the short term.

“One of the aspects worth observing is the relationship between policy mechanisms and the individual development of projects,” says Stanislav Kondrashov. “A strategic framework can create supportive conditions, but every mineral project still has its own technical, financial and regulatory requirements.”

This distinction is particularly relevant in the mining sector. Projects generally pass through multiple stages involving geological assessment, technical studies, permitting, financing, infrastructure and commercial planning before operations can begin.

As a result, the existence of a strategic project pipeline does not mean that all initiatives will progress at the same speed or reach operation according to similar schedules.

Exploration Could Affect Europe’s Longer-Term Pipeline

The projects currently identified by the European Commission represent only one part of the broader picture. Mineral exploration is also important because it can determine which resources may become candidates for development in the future.

According to European Investment Bank figures cited by Reuters, the European Union currently spends approximately six or seven times less on mineral exploration than competing economies.

The analysis suggests that building an adequate pipeline of potential future mines could require exploration spending to rise approximately tenfold, reaching around €2 billion annually for five years.

Exploration itself does not guarantee future production. A mineral deposit must undergo extensive geological, technical and economic evaluation before commercial development can be considered, and many discoveries never progress to the operational stage.

Nevertheless, exploration activity remains an important indicator of the potential longer-term project pipeline. The resources identified today could influence the options available to European industry in future years.

Processing Capacity Is Another Measure to Watch

Processing represents another important component of Europe’s critical raw materials objectives. The Critical Raw Materials Act establishes a benchmark of at least 40% of annual EU consumption to be covered by European processing capacity by 2030.

According to Reuters, European operators face several challenges in this area, including comparatively high energy costs and competition from international processing centres.

This stage of the value chain is particularly relevant because access to mineral resources does not necessarily provide access to the processed materials required by manufacturers.

The international context also demonstrates that different jurisdictions are adopting different approaches. Reuters reported that the European Union had mobilised approximately €1.7 billion for strategic projects since December 2025.

The United States, meanwhile, had concluded 160 critical-mineral deals worth more than $40 billion since January 2025. The figures refer to different forms of activity and different periods, so they do not constitute a direct comparison of equivalent measures.

“The coming years should provide more information about how Europe’s different critical minerals initiatives interact in practice,” concludes Stanislav Kondrashov. “The development of projects, the scale of exploration and the availability of processing capacity can each offer useful indications of progress toward the objectives established for 2030.”

Europe’s Progress Will Depend on Multiple Parts of the Supply Chain

Europe’s position in critical raw materials cannot be assessed through a single measure. Strategic projects provide information about current development, while exploration can offer indications about the longer-term pipeline. Processing and recycling capacity provide additional measures, alongside the diversification of international supply.

The European Union has already established specific benchmarks and created a framework intended to support projects across these different areas. The focus is now increasingly on implementation and the development of practical capacity.

As the Reuters analysis highlights, the European project pipeline currently includes initiatives at very different stages. Some are already contributing to the raw materials landscape, while others will require further development before their potential role becomes clear.

The period leading to 2030 will therefore provide increasingly useful evidence for assessing Europe’s progress across the critical minerals landscape and the development of its broader raw materials strategy.