RESourceEU Action Plan
Summary
RESourceEU is intended to reduce critical-raw-material supply risks through finance, faster permitting, recycling, diversification and international partnerships. A CRM financing hub aims to mobilise EUR 3 billion within 12 months, while Horizon Europe calls of EUR 593 million and EUR 100 million of blended European Innovation Council finance support its objectives. The plan also backs projects in Greenland and Germany, raw-material matchmaking, stockpiling, export-scrap measures, foreign-investment controls and standards-based markets.
Action items
The Commission will set up a multi-pillars CRM financing hub to de-risk CRMs projects through a range of EU instruments, including InvestEU, the EU Innovation Fund, the Battery Booster or the European Defence Industry Programme. It aims to mobilise EUR 3 billion within the next 12 months.
The Commission, Member States and partner countries will further operationalise the Strategic Partnerships by accelerating support to projects in third countries through technical assistance, guarantee and blending instruments supported by EU diplomatic and economic tools.
To kick-start the implementation of RESourceEU, the Commission and the EIB are today unlocking financial support for 2 CRMs projects that will promptly deliver on the EU needs: Greenland Resources’ Malmbjerg molybdenum project to achieve supply security for the defence sector; and Vulcan's lithium's extraction Strategic Project in Germany, to contribute to supply of battery raw materials. The project secured EUR 250 million of financial support from the European Investment Bank.
The Commission will propose adjustments to the EU regulatory framework on permitting to improve the framework conditions to help CRM projects become operational more quickly.
By Q1 2026, the Commission will issue a guidance on the Water Framework Directive and, by
Q2 2026, the Commission will review and revise it.
By Q2 2026, the Commission will propose restrictions on the export of rare earth permanent magnets scrap.
By Q2 2026, the Commission will also propose targeted measures for aluminium scrap. Similar measures will be considered for copper scrap, following further monitoring. As part of RESourceEU, the Commission proposes amending the CRMA to increase the recyclability of rare earth permanent magnets.
By Q3 2026, the Commission will propose measures to increase CRM recovery in the Circular Economy Act, including from e-waste.
By Q2 2026, the Commission will propose an action plan to ensure the availability and affordability of domestic fertilisers, including actions to enable recycled nutrients and other alternatives to fertilisers
Under the 2026-2027 work programme of Horizon Europe, the Commission will launch dedicated calls of EUR 593 million to support the RESourceEU objectives, with an additional EUR 100 million blended finance support from the European Innovation Council.
By Q4 2026, the Commission will propose the Advanced Materials Act.
By Q1 2026, the Commission will launch the first round of matchmaking under the EU Energy and Raw Materials Platform focusing on the rare earth permanent magnets, battery and defence raw materials value chain.
As part of RESourceEU, the Commission proposes amending the CRMA to stimulate the supply chain diversification efforts of large market operators, in order to prevent dependence on single sources of supply.
The Commission is exploring incentives for diversification in the context of the revision of the Defence Procurement Directive and in the design of the Defence Readiness 2030 Flagship Projects.
By Q1 2026, the Commission and Member States will kick-off a first pilot on CRMs stockpiling.
From Q2 2026 and whenever necessary, the Commission will mobilise the IMERA toolbox to protect the internal market against supply disruptions on the CRM value chain.
By Q2 2026, the Commission will integrate CRMA Strategic Projects in the Foreign Direct Investment Regulation to increase control over foreign investment in strategic sectors. In parallel, the Commission and G7 partners will develop CRM standards-based markets built on environmental, social, governance, supply diversification and resilience criteria.
By Q2 2026, the Commission will develop a robust policy approach, including trade instruments, to react against non-market practices, such as price distortions, on the CRMs value chain.
EU diplomatic and economic tools in Team Europe context will also support the conclusions of contracts between EU and third countries companies
The Commission will launch negotiations on a CRMs partnership with Brazil.
The Commission will enhance cooperation with Southern Neighbourhood, notably with the upcoming Action Plan of the Pact for the Mediterranean.
The Commission will leverage the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance to de-risk CRMs projects in the EU and in partner countries.
The Commission will follow up on shared commitment and strong push for diversification at G20 level, in the framework of the G20 Critical Minerals Framework.