The European Commission has adopted RESourceEU, a new action plan aimed at strengthening the EU’s supply chain for critical raw materials. The plan builds on the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and is designed to reduce reliance on imports while supporting industrial sectors such as batteries, defence, data centres, aerospace, and electric vehicles.
The plan introduces a European Critical Raw Materials Centre by 2026 to coordinate strategic projects, financing, joint purchasing, and stockpiling. A Raw Materials Platform will be established to help companies collectively procure materials and secure long-term offtake agreements. In parallel, the EU is developing a common stockpiling approach, with a pilot to begin in 2026.
To accelerate project development, the Commission will deploy up to €3 billion in funding over the next 12 months, with early support already committed to the Malmbjerg molybdenum project in Greenland and Vulcan Energy’s lithium project in Germany. Permitting will also be streamlined to speed up raw materials production in the EU.
On the international front, the EU will deepen cooperation with resource-rich partners under its Global Gateway initiative and through alliances such as the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance. South Africa has recently joined as a strategic partner, and negotiations are underway with Brazil and others.
For European graphite producers and buyers, RESourceEU could affect both investment flows and sourcing strategies. While the plan does not mention graphite specifically, the emphasis on joint procurement, fast-tracked permitting, and stockpiling mechanisms could indirectly benefit graphite-related projects. The €3 billion in short-term funding and the focus on securing offtake deals may also support domestic and associated projects, particularly those recognised under the CRMA. However, competition for funding across multiple critical materials may limit near-term support unless graphite receives a clearer strategic designation in follow-up measures.
Leave a Reply