The European Union is taking active steps to reduce its dependence on China concerning rare earth elements critical to various sectors.
Creation of Strategic Rare Earth Reserves
On June 23, 2025, EU Commissioner for Industrial Strategy Stephane Sejourne highlighted the need for joint strategic reserves of rare earth elements to counter potential economic coercion from China.
New EU Strategy in Light of Chinese Restrictions
In response to China's decision to impose export restrictions on rare earth magnets, the EU announced new projects to secure supplies of metals and minerals essential for its sectors. These measures are crucial to ensure the EU's competitiveness in the green energy transition and defense.
Negotiations at the Upcoming EU-China Summit in July
Ahead of the planned EU-China summit in July 2025, leaders are discussing access to rare earth elements. Parallel negotiations for expedited licenses for rare earth exports between the EU and China may be part of the discussions, despite concerns about dependency on Chinese supplies.
Recognizing its reliance on China, the European Union is taking steps to create strategic reserves of rare earth elements and plans to discuss supply issues at the upcoming summit.
