A Vision for Strategic Autonomy and Circularity
In her keynote at the Global Battery Alliance Annual General Meeting, Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner, outlined a vision positioning batteries as core to a resilient, sustainable Europe. Highlighting Europe's heavy dependence on imports — 98% of rare earth elements and 87% of lithium — Roswall warned that such reliance threatens security amidst geopolitical uncertainties and rising raw material demand. Her strategy emphasizes reducing this dependence through developing a European battery ecosystem rooted in circular economy principles.
Concrete Measures to Fortify EU Battery Sector
Roswall detailed four main pillars of action. The Clean Industrial Deal (2025) aims to optimize Europe's resource use. The Battery Booster Package proposes financial support and improved raw material access. The newly adopted RESourceEU Plan targets critical raw materials resilience, seeking faster progress beyond the Critical Raw Materials Act. Finally, the EU Batteries Regulation introduces ambitious recycling targets requiring new batteries to contain minimum recycled lithium, nickel, and cobalt starting 2031. This Regulation also mandates businesses to conduct supply chain due diligence on social and environmental impacts, with a postponed deadline to 2027 to ease transition.
Impact on Stakeholders and Policy Orientation
This integrated approach boosts EU regulatory strength, increasing transparency and supervision in battery supply chains. It favors EU industry competitiveness by promoting domestic production and circularity, while imposing increased compliance demands on producers and suppliers. Consumers stand to gain from the digital battery passport, enhancing information on product sustainability and performance. However, companies face challenges related to due diligence and meeting recycling quotas. National authorities may see expanded roles in enforcement and oversight. Overall, Roswall’s proposals lean towards enhancing EU sovereignty and regulation in strategic raw materials and technology sectors, illustrating a shift from linear resource consumption to a circular, self-sufficient model.