Thewesternbalkans.
On 4th of June 2025 the European Commission has taken a Decision recognising certain critical raw material projects located in third countries and in overseas countries or territories as Strategic Projects under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council Strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). We are talking on first 13 strategic projects outside of the EU. The 13 join 47 ‘strategic’ projects inside the EU, identified as contributing to the “competitiveness of EU industry and in particular sectors such as electro mobility, renewable energy, defence and aerospace”.
The European Commission also opened a call for applications on strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act.
The European CRMA designates strategic projects to increase EU capacity to extract, process and recycle strategic raw materials and diversify EU supplies from third countries.
According to the document, Strategic projects make a meaningful contribution to the security of the Union’s supply of strategic raw materials. They are or will become technically feasible within a reasonable timeframe, showing expected production volumes, and implemented sustainably with a sufficient estimated confidence level.
The Commission considers strategic projects of public interest due to their importance in ensuring the security of the supply of strategic raw materials and safeguarding the functioning of the internal market.
Number five of the 13 projects outside of the EU is named Jadar, managed by Rio Tinto (Local entity: Rio Sava Exploration doo), registered in London, St. James’s Square 6, United Kingdom.
Rio Tinto says the European Commission’s decision to designate its planned lithium mine in Serbia a ‘strategic project’ confirms its compliance with environmental protection and social responsibility standards; opponents say it changes nothing.
Comments: Strategic raw materials are crucial for the success of the green and digital transitions as well as the resilience of the defence and aerospace sectors.
But while the Commission said the 13 non-EU projects are designed “to boost local value creation in third countries”, the planned lithium mine in Serbia’s western Jadar valley has faced considerable local resistance.
On the other side this Decision explicates very well why the Serbian President has received so strong support from the EU institutions last couple of mounts.
