In its plenary session in Strasbourg last Thursday, the European Parliament adopted its position on the proposed EU Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act. In its vote, the EP approved some amendments and additions to the report of its Industry Committee (ITRE), which is the lead committee for this legislative project. The vote result represents the position of the EP representatives in the upcoming trilogue talks with the European Council and the European Commission where the co-legislators will hammer out the final version of the new Regulation.
The member states agreed on their negotiating mandate for the planned raw materials legislation at a Council meeting in late June. Following the Parliament's plenary vote, the rapporteur responsible for this legislative project, German MEP Nicola Beer (Renew), expressed hope that the trilogue’s work on the proposed Regulation can be completed before Christmas. "We are counting on the urgency and relevance of the secure and sustainable supply of raw materials being as much a concern for member states as it is for us, the people’s representatives,” said Ms Beer following the vote.
One of the changes adopted by the Parliament was the addition of aluminium to the list of "strategic" raw materials. However, amendments to designate coking coal and tin as "strategic" did not reach the necessary number of votes in the EP.
The European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC), for its part, had spoken out against expanding the lists and adding materials such as aluminium, nickel and ferrous scrap, arguing that they did not meet the requirements for inclusion....
