EU intensifies efforts to reduce dependence on China's rare earth minerals

2025-10-25 14:44:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The European Union is developing a new plan to curb its dependence on Chinese raw materials, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday, as she criticized Beijing for expanding restrictions on the export of rare metals.

The European Union has been trying for years to reduce its dependence on China for minerals that are needed for the transition to cleaner energy, the defense sector and the production of electric vehicles.

Von der Leyen said the EU will seek to accelerate partnerships for critical raw materials with countries such as Australia, Canada, Chile, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.

The plan will also include greater efforts to recycle critical raw materials in products sold in Europe, she added.

"The aim is to ensure access to alternative sources of critical raw materials in the short, medium and long term for our European industry," she said at a conference in Berlin.

According to her, the scheme, called RESourceEU, will be similar to the plan the EU developed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to reduce dependence on Russian energy, known as REPowerEU.

"We will focus on everything from joint purchases to stockpiling. We will increase investment in strategic projects for the production and processing of critical raw materials here in the European Union," she added.

On October 9, China imposed restrictions on the export of rare earth metals and battery materials. Western governments and analysts see this as part of China's response to trade tariffs imposed by the United States.

But Von der Leyen said it also had a major impact in Europe, in industrial sectors including automotive, defense, aerospace, artificial intelligence chips and data centers.

"If you consider that over 90% of our consumption of rare metals comes from imports from China, you understand the risk that exists here for Europe and its most strategic industrial sectors," she said.

"In the short term, we are focusing on finding solutions with our Chinese counterparts. But we are ready to use all the instruments at our disposal to respond, if necessary ," she added. /REL