The European Union (EU) is aiming to strengthen its cooperation with like-minded countries to secure its supply of so-called critical raw materials. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen considers Canada a "perfect match" - a resource-rich and reliable partner that shares the EU’s...

The recent political consensus on the European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) marks a significant step towards a common raw materials policy within the European Union (EU). Against the backdrop of increasing geopolitical tensions, the EU aims to bolster its "strategic autonomy" within its raw...

When it comes to being supplied with raw materials, Europe faces a number of chal­lenges. These include the diversification of European supply chains, the implementation of effective sustainability standards, and the reduction of strategic dependencies on China. What will European-Chinese raw...

Saudi Arabia has entered the geopolitical competition for mineral resources - and it has done so in a determined manner and with substantial funds at its disposal. As part of its Vision 2030, the Kingdom aims to strengthen local processing and industrial value added. Currently, Saudi Arabia...

The German government intends to establish standards for responsible sourcing of metals, and laid out its objectives in a position paper in January 2023 ("Paths to sus­tainable and resilient raw material supplies"). German firms source much of the metals they use through traders, exchanges and...

Diversifying the supply of mineral resources is a strategic necessity - one in which resource-rich countries of the Global South play a crucial role. Zambia, which is a major global copper exporter and possesses other critical raw materials, is seeking long-term alliances that will mobilise...

In summer 2023, the EU entered a strategic raw materials partnership with Chile. While the EU is seeking to gain better access to critical raw materials such as lithium and copper, Chile is aiming to diversify its raw materials sector and boost local value creation. Despite progress having been...

In July 2024, the European Union (EU) and the Serbian government signed a strategic raw materials partnership. For the EU, this cooperation represents an important step towards diversifying its supply chains and strengthening economic partnerships in its neighbourhood. Serbian President...