The European Commission is developing new laws for certain raw materials. This “European Critical Raw Materials Act”, due to be published at the end of March 2023, will address certain materials that are of “strategic importance” across the EU economy, and of particular importance to the green and digital transitions (for example lithium).
Friends of the Earth Europe believes it is of utmost importance that the new laws ensure measures to reduce the overall demand for raw materials, that lead to greater circularity, that ensure high environmental and social regulations for new mining and processing, and full transparency in all processes. This joint paper with the European Environmental Bureau, SOMO and PowerShift outlines our input into the public consultation to shape these new laws.
