Critical Raw Materials and Open Strategic Autonomy in Europe: Targets, Resources and Geography

Diego Dessi, Simona Iammarino and Stefano Usai

No 2606, Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) from Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography

Abstract: This paper examines the European Union (EU)’s strategy for securing Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) within the framework of Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA). As the green and digital transitions escalate global demand, the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) establishes ambitious 2030 targets for domestic extraction, processing, and recycling to reduce reliance on concentrated foreign suppliers. The study critically evaluates the EU’s main policy targets against the natural endowment of Strategic Raw Materials (SRMs) through global comparisons and subnational mapping at the NUTS-2 level. Findings indicate that European SRM resources are generally below global averages and highly concentrated in specific regions, predominantly in the Nordic countries and the Iberian Peninsula. We argue that CRMA’s top-down approach risks overlooking regional capabilities, geological constraints, and social responses from the communities involved. The paper suggests that without integrating place-based approaches and fostering equitable international interregional partnerships, the current strategy may undermine the EU’s pursuit of the targets of current industrial strategies for competitiveness and technological sovereignty.

Date: 2026-05, Revised 2026-05
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