EU selects 46 new strategic raw-material projects

On 9 October, the European Commission selected 46 new strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act. Of 102 applications received, 92 underwent detailed assessment. The winners are located in 16 member states; Hungary is not among the listed host countries.

The package consists of eight extraction, 11 processing and 19 recycling projects, plus eight integrated investments. It covers 15 of the 17 strategic raw materials, including seven lithium, 12 nickel, 10 cobalt, five manganese and four graphite projects. The consolidated EU list now contains 106 designated projects.

For Hungary's automotive, battery and electronics sectors, the key issue is lower supplier risk rather than domestic project status. The EU's 2030 benchmarks are to extract at least 10%, process 40% and recycle 25% of annual consumption within the Union. Related reading includes our reports on Hungarian industrial output and the EU–Türkiye rail corridor.

Strategic status is intended to support faster permitting and easier access to finance, but it does not amount to automatic funding. The Commission plans another call for applications towards the end of 2026. Financing and permitting for the newly designated projects will still require separate verification.