EU Expands Battery Material Sourcing with Strategic Global Projects

June 13, 2025 — The European Commission has unveiled a new wave of 13 strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening the EU’s access to vital battery materials — and all of them are located beyond the European Union’s borders.

These newly announced projects build on a previous set of 47 initiatives involving multiple EU member states, announced earlier this year. Together, they form part of the EU’s broader effort to secure reliable supplies of essential raw materials critical to the production of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and battery energy storage systems (BESS).

Global Partnerships to Fill the Supply Gap

While the EU continues to promote internal supply development, the majority of the newly approved projects will be established in non-EU countries, highlighting a strategic shift in approach. Seven of the 13 new projects will be developed in Canada, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Norway, Serbia, Ukraine, and Zambia. The remaining sites include Brazil, Madagascar, Malawi, New Caledonia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom — which formally exited the EU five years ago.

This international expansion underscores the EU’s growing awareness of its limitations in sourcing raw materials domestically. According to data previously reported by Batteries International, the EU currently meets only about 1% of its own demand for critical battery minerals. To fulfill its energy transition goals by 2030, the bloc is estimated to require an investment exceeding €4.2 trillion.

Tension Between Ambitions and Reality

The reliance on external sources contrasts with earlier ambitions outlined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who introduced an action plan last March promoting domestic production and a reduced dependence on external supply chains.

Despite this apparent contradiction, EU officials emphasize that these international collaborations align with the region’s long-term strategic interests. The Commission clarified that most of the participating countries already maintain formal raw materials partnerships with the EU.

Due Diligence and Sustainability Focus

Each of the selected projects has undergone a rigorous evaluation process conducted by independent experts. The review process ensured full compliance with the requirements of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. This includes strict assessments of environmental responsibility, social governance, and technical viability.

Moreover, projects had to demonstrate a clear contribution to enhancing supply security for the EU. This includes forging off-take agreements with downstream European industries — ensuring that the materials extracted abroad ultimately serve European battery manufacturing needs.

Looking Ahead

The EU’s approach illustrates a pragmatic response to the urgent need for battery raw materials amid the global race to scale up green technologies. While the ambition to build a self-sufficient European battery supply chain remains, leveraging global partnerships appears to be an essential part of the strategy in the short to medium term.

As the energy transition accelerates, securing stable and ethical sources of lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and manganese will remain at the heart of Europe’s industrial and environmental agenda.