The Berlin Declaration highlights contradictions between the EU and Spain

Some analysts indicate that Spain signs commitments to simplification and industrial resilience, but several key mining projects remain blocked, while the EU leaves out essential critical resources.
In a scenario in which more than 80% of the EU’s supply of critical minerals depends on third parties, Spain’s accession to the Berlin Declaration, signed by 17 member states, has highlighted, according to some analysts, contradictions and the lack of coherence in European policies. Although the agreement aims to guarantee “industrial sovereignty, technological leadership, decarbonisation, critical raw materials or the defence industry”, several strategic mining projects in Spain remain blocked after years of evaluations and administrative procedures, while some essential resources remain not on the EU’s official list of critical raw materials. They point out that while Brussels and Madrid proclaim the need to streamline processes and strengthen European capacity to manage its strategic resources, initiatives in potash, copper, lithium and gypsum remain paralyzed, putting millions of dollars in investments and the creation of thousands of potential jobs on hold. According to Miteco’s ‘Mining Statistics 2023’ Report, Spain has sufficient resources to alleviate European dependence and generate an annual production value of these minerals of more than 3,500 million euros with more than 30,200 direct jobs, evidencing the industrial potential that could be activated if these projects were unblocked. Meanwhile, sources in the sector agree that “the abundance of resources does not translate into industrial development due to the delay of procedures, changes in administrative criteria and a climate of legal uncertainty”.

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