Looking for resource sovereignty in a fragmenting global order: the EU’s response to critical raw materials challenges

This chapter examines the European Union's (EU) evolving concerns and strategies regarding critical raw materials (CRMs), which are essential for the renewable energy and digital transitions. The COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions with Russia and China have made the EU aware of the...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Vlaskamp, Martijn
Tipo de recurso: capítulo de libro
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:10230/69852
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10230/69852
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-64060-5_6
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Matèries primeres -- Unió Europea, Països de la
Unió Europea, Països de la -- Política econòmica
Unió Europea, Països de la -- Política comercial
Descripción
Sumario:This chapter examines the European Union's (EU) evolving concerns and strategies regarding critical raw materials (CRMs), which are essential for the renewable energy and digital transitions. The COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions with Russia and China have made the EU aware of the fragility of some of their supply chains. Initially seen mainly as an economic issue, the secure supply of CRMs is now perceived as a geopolitical concern crucial for strategic autonomy. This shift led to the 2024 Critical Raw Materials Act, which includes domestic and external measures such as bilateral agreements with resource exporters and strategic partnerships with politically like-minded countries. These policies were supported by almost all Member States, EU institutions, and groups in the European Parliament. Overall, this case illustrates a move of the EU from unequivocally advocating global free trade to a more protective approach to secure the raw materials vital for Europe's political and economic ambitions.