The European Commission has picked 46 new strategic raw material projects as Europe races to secure the minerals behind batteries, chips and defence equipment. Here is what the strategy involves. Under the 2024 Critical Raw Materials Act, the EU aims to mine 10%, process 40% and recycle 25% of its annual needs by 2030.

Strategic projects get faster permits and help accessing public and private funding, though not automatic EU cash. The new batch spans 16 countries and 15 of the EU’s 17 strategic materials, from lithium and copper to rare earths, and needs about 21.1 billion euros in investment.

The urgency comes from dependence on China, which has used mineral exports as trade leverage. Brussels is also exploring a joint stockpile of key raw materials with partners. Progress on last year’s projects has been slow, so execution is the real test. For the EU, the 46 projects are the latest step in a strategy that also includes trade defence and diversification.

Whether the bloc can mine, process and recycle at the pace its 2030 targets demand remains the open question.