For the ECR Group, Europe can only reduce its dangerous dependence on external suppliers if it backs strategic autonomy with concrete instruments, investment and stronger European production. Following today’s European Parliament vote on amendments to the Critical Raw Materials Act, ECR Shadow Rapporteur Mariateresa Vivaldini welcomed the creation of a European Critical Raw Materials Centre as an important step in that direction.

Vivaldini said:

“Critical raw materials have become a fundamental lever of geopolitical power. Whoever controls their supply can shape the future of our industry, our technological transition and our security. With today’s vote, the European Parliament has taken an important step towards creating a European Critical Raw Materials Centre, an instrument we in the ECR strongly supported to reduce the Union’s strategic dependencies.

“While China, the United States and Japan are strengthening their supply strategies, Europe must equip itself with equally concrete tools. The new Centre must support investment, joint purchasing, long-term agreements and strategic stocks, strengthening European capabilities across the entire supply chain, from extraction to processing and recycling.”

A central ECR priority during negotiations was to ensure that Member States retain a meaningful role in the Centre’s strategic governance.

Vivaldini explained:

“The contribution of the European Conservatives was decisive, starting with our proposal to establish a Governing Board that guarantees the full involvement of Member States in strategic decisions. We worked for an autonomous Centre with solid governance, clearly defined responsibilities and proportionate obligations for businesses. Now we need adequate funding, including through the European Competitiveness Fund, and a clear timetable to make it operational.”

She concluded:

“Today’s vote, supported by five political groups, paves the way for negotiations with the Council. Strategic autonomy is not built solely on new objectives, but by bringing investment, production capacity and security of supply back to Europe. This is the priority we will also pursue in the trilogue.”