Recital 14

(14) The Commission should, with the support of the Board, identify projects in the Union that are intended to start or expand the extraction, processing or recycling of strategic raw materials, or the production and scale-up of materials that can substitute strategic raw materials in strategic technologies, with the aim of recognising such projects as Strategic Projects. Effective support for Strategic Projects has the potential to improve access to strategic raw materials for downstream sectors, to create economic opportunities along the value chain, including for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and to contribute to the creation of employment. Therefore, to ensure the development of Strategic Projects across the Union, such projects should benefit from streamlined and predictable permitting procedures and support in gaining access to finance. Such measures could also inspire improvements in other permitting procedures and in access to finance for projects related to critical or other raw materials. In order to focus support and ensure their added value, projects should, before receiving such support, be assessed against a set of criteria. Raw material projects where strategic raw materials are a by-product, including from ferrous scrap, should also be eligible for such support, if they meet all relevant criteria. In order to be recognised as Strategic Projects in the Union, projects should strengthen the Union’s security of supply for strategic raw materials. Projects should also show sufficient technical feasibility, including the expected volume of strategic raw materials or substitute materials by which they increase Union capacity, excluding materials produced for research purposes; be implemented in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner; and provide cross-border benefits beyond the Member State concerned, including spill-over effects further down the value chain. Where the Commission assesses those criteria to be fulfilled, it should publish the recognition as a Strategic Project by means of a decision. As a speedy recognition is key to effectively supporting the Union’s security of supply, the assessment process should remain light and not overly burdensome.

← Recital 13 · All articles · Recital 15 →

Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-10-13 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.