Overview
The file concerns a proposal to amend the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), registered under the ordinary legislative procedure as 2025/0385(COD). The overall status is ongoing, with the European Parliament at the first-reading stage, awaiting a committee decision. This analysis is based on a draft opinion from the European Parliament's Committee on Development (DEVE-PA-785239), which provides a formal sectoral perspective on the legislative proposal.
Legislative timeline
The legislative procedure commenced in the European Parliament on 19 January 2026 with the referral of the Commission's proposal to the responsible committee for first reading. A key upcoming milestone is the preparation of the committee report. In the Council, a mandate for negotiations is scheduled for discussion on 3 April 2026.
Institutional handling
The lead committee in the European Parliament is the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). The Committee on Development (DEVE) is providing an opinion. The relevant Commissioner is Stéphane Séjourné, and the Council configuration handling the file is the Competitiveness Council (COMPET).
Stakeholder reactions
Stakeholder engagement on this file has been substantial, with 470 documented meetings involving 222 distinct organisations. Meetings were held with Members of the European Parliament (147), Commissioners (156), and European Commission staff (167). The most active organisations in these engagements include the Cobalt Institute, Anglo American, Eumicon AISBL, Greenland Resources, and AMG Lithium GmbH.
Positions on specific policy aspects vary. On the topic of sourcing critical raw materials, several industry stakeholders express strong support with a focus on competitiveness. KGHM promotes its role as a full copper value chain supplier, the International Copper Association Europe highlights the indispensable role of these materials for strategic sectors, and both Tapojärvi and Neo Performance Materials explicitly advocate for faster permitting processes. On circular economy provisions, positions diverge. Environmental NGOs and Transport & Environment advocate for stronger environmental regulation, including turning an Environmental Watchdog mechanism into a binding Regulation. In contrast, CO2 Value Europe AISBL and the French Federation of Recycling Companies (FEDEREC) express support, framing the circular economy as an opportunity to stimulate demand and enhance competitiveness.
Media coverage
Media attention from Brussels-based outlets has focused on the broader context of the EU's critical raw materials strategy. Coverage notes that Europe is accelerating mining permitting under the 2024 CRMA, against a backdrop of environmental protests and concerns over dependency on external suppliers, particularly China. One article references a written question to the European Commission by MEP Emma Fourreau, which queries the transparency of EU funding for Critical Raw Materials projects and explores potential strategies for copper replacement.