Diversification of supply, improving conditions for domestic production and circular use are key to ensuring the sustainable supply of raw materials in the EU. As millions of European jobs are affected by the market conditions and the availability of raw materials, the EU needs to address its future mining potential, the growing skills shortage and innovation needs and its current import-dependency.
These are some of the key messages of the EU Raw Materials Scoreboard published by the European Commission on 14 July 2016.
The EU economy requires a wide variety of raw materials and not all of them are produced in Europe. The EU is highly dependent on imports of certain raw materials, including metals, certain minerals and natural rubber. The rising demand for raw materials, the concentration of the world's supply and global price volatility have significant consequences for the EU's security of supply.
See more: ec.europa.eu/jrc