Recital 37

(37) A strong European value chain is necessary to ensure security of supply to safeguard the functioning of the internal market and increasing capacities can be achieved only with adequate financial means, part of which could come from existing Union funds. Critical raw materials projects, including Strategic Projects, could be eligible for support from such funds if the requirements of the relevant programmes are met, for example related to geographical location, the environment or their contribution to innovation. The relevant funds comprise cohesion policy programmes, such as the European Regional Development fund established by Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 of the European Parliament and of the Council (15), whose allocation of grants to promote regional cohesion may enable SMEs to develop innovative projects, for instance linked to the reduction of energy consumption in the processing of raw materials. The Just Transition Fund established by Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 of the European Parliament and of the Council (16) could also be used to support such type of projects to the extent that they contribute to reducing the social and economic costs brought by the green transition. In addition, the Recovery and Resilience Facility established by Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council (17) , particularly its RePowerEU Chapter, which focuses on energy security and diversification of energy supply, could be mobilised to support projects involved, for instance, in the recycling or recovery of raw materials. The Innovation Fund established by Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (18), the objective of which is, in particular, to drive clean and innovative technologies towards the market, could provide grants, inter alia, to enable the development of recycling capacity of raw materials related to low carbon technologies. Furthermore, InvestEU established by Regulation (EU) 2021/523 of the European Parliament and of the Council (19) is the Union’s flagship programme for boosting investment, especially in the green and digital transition, by providing financing and technical assistance. Through the use of blending mechanisms, InvestEU contributes to the crowding-in of additional public and private capital. The Commission will work with InvestEU implementing partners to scale up support to and investment in relevant projects, in line with the common objectives set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/523 and this Regulation. Last, projects in third countries contributing to the diversification of Union’s supply could be supported through relevant funds, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument and the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus established by Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council (20).

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