Can Europe defeat the oligopoly of strategic minerals?

The Old Continent wants to reduce its dependence on imports of materials necessary for the ecological transition and the technology industry, but the high concentration of mining and refining in countries such as China complicates this task.

Consolidating so-called “strategic autonomy” has become one of the priorities of the European Union (EU). After facing several supply crises due to the coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the bloc has decided to strengthen supply chains at the regional level through legislative initiatives. However, the mission may be more complex than they expected: in order to consolidate the ecological transition and ensure its industrial and energy independence, the bloc must first guarantee the production and availability of certain critical raw materials. That said, the question arises: is the EU really capable of meeting its own needs in this sector?

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