The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has called for significantly greater investment in Europe’s critical raw materials sector, arguing that the European Commission’s proposed €3 billion under the RESourceEU Action Plan is insufficient to meet the growing demand for materials essential to the green, digital and defence transitions. The Committee stresses that securing access to critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements is becoming increasingly important as global demand rises, and supply chains face geopolitical pressures.
The EESC recommends a comprehensive strategy that combines increased investment with stronger industrial competitiveness, affordable energy, sustainable domestic production, recycling, and circularity, and diversified international partnerships. It also emphasises that faster permitting procedures should not compromise environmental protection, workers’ rights, or public participation, highlighting the need to balance resilience with sustainability.
The priorities outlined by the EESC closely align with MINEYE’s objectives. By combining Earth Observation, artificial intelligence, and geospatial analytics, MINEYE supports more sustainable mineral exploration and resource management, contributing to Europe’s efforts to build resilient and responsible critical raw materials value chains.
