The Hunt for Critical Raw Materials and the New EU Economic Security Framework

Against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions and growing competition over strategic resources, the hunt for critical raw materials is intensifying. From lithium and rare earths to cobalt and nickel, global powers are scrambling to secure access to materials essential not only for the green and digitals transitions, but also for their defense industries. China’s dominance in processing capacity, combined with supply chain vulnerabilities exposed by the recent tariff crisis, has heightened the sense of urgency in Brussels and beyond.

As the EU prepares to present its new Economic Security Framework – aimed at appeasing both governments and industries calling for greater European strategic sovereignty – our workshop offers a timely opportunity to address these pressing issues. We will examine the EU’s defensive and proactive instruments, and assess the core policy tools that underpin the EU’s approach to economic security. We will also explore how disruptive technologies may shift current and future demand, and consider whether – and to what extent – transatlantic cooperation can be strengthened, even in the face of an increasingly transactional EU-U.S. relationship.

More information about the speakers and panel topics will follow shortly.

We would like to thank Bruegel for its generous hospitality and support. 
 
This workshop series is made possible by the generous support of the Planning Unit of the German Federal Foreign Office.