> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://telf-ag.ghost.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# TELF AG Explores Europe’s Progress on Critical Raw Materials
- URL: https://telf-ag.ghost.io/telf-ag-explores-europes-progress-on-critical-raw-materials/
- Published: 2026-09-25T07:27:07.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-25T07:27:07.000Z
- Author: Telf AG

Critical minerals have become an increasingly prominent part of Europe’s industrial strategy, particularly as demand for materials connected to energy technologies and advanced manufacturing continues to develop. The European Union has responded by establishing specific targets, identifying strategic projects, and introducing mechanisms designed to support investment across the raw materials value chain.

A recent Reuters analysis examined how this strategy is progressing, focusing not only on the objectives established by European institutions but also on the practical challenges associated with exploration, financing, processing, and project development.

At the centre of the European framework is the Critical Raw Materials Act, which entered into force in 2024\. The legislation established four benchmarks for 2030 covering extraction, processing, recycling, and supply diversification.

Under these objectives, EU extraction capacity should cover at least 10% of annual consumption of strategic raw materials. Processing capacity should reach at least 40% of annual consumption, while recycling capacity should cover at least 25%. At the same time, no more than 65% of the EU’s annual consumption of each strategic raw material, at any relevant stage of processing, should come from a single non-EU country.

“The targets established for 2030 show how the European raw materials strategy extends across the entire supply chain,” says Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of [TELF AG](https://telf.ch/telf-ag-on-europes-developing-strategy-for-critical-minerals/?ref=telf-ag.ghost.io). “The focus is not exclusively on extracting more resources, but also on developing processing, recycling, and a more diversified supply structure.”

**Europe’s Strategic Projects Cover Different Parts of the Value Chain**

One of the principal instruments being used to pursue these objectives is the development of strategic projects. Last year, the European Commission selected 60 projects, of which 47 are located within the European Union and 13 in third countries.

The initiatives cover extraction, processing, and recycling activities. Strategic project status is designed to facilitate access to financing and accelerate permitting procedures while helping project developers establish connections with potential customers.

Their current stages of development, however, vary considerably. Some projects are already operational or relatively advanced, while others remain at earlier stages or require additional financial support. In some cases, publicly available information is insufficient to establish a detailed picture of their progress. These differences were also identified in a recent survey by the independent think tank ODI Europe.

The types of resources represented within the European project pipeline also vary. According to ODI data, lithium is present in 32% of European projects, graphite in 25%, and copper in 18%.

Rare earths represent a more limited share. Reuters noted that only five projects focus on these resources, despite the EU’s substantial external dependence in this segment.

![European Union flags representing the EU’s critical minerals strategy, discussed by Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG, in connection with analysis published by Reuters.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6c/5d/6c5da1f1-3fa8-4ad7-b0e7-fcb74f2e1aed/content/images/2026/09/Stanislav-Kondrashov-TELF-AG-European-Union-minerals-strategy.png)

Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG, discusses the European Union’s critical raw materials objectives, while Reuters examines the progress of strategic projects across extraction, processing, and recycling.

**RESourceEU Adds Another Element to the European Framework**

The EU has also introduced additional measures to accelerate the development of its critical raw materials strategy. One of the most recent is RESourceEU, launched in December 2025.

The initiative includes plans for a European Critical Raw Materials Centre, alongside mechanisms designed to support investment and the development of strategic projects. It also aims to mobilise up to €3 billion over the following 12 months for projects capable of providing alternative sources of critical raw materials in the short term.

“The combination of strategic projects, investment mechanisms, and dedicated institutions illustrates the increasingly structured nature of Europe’s approach,” says Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of [TELF AG](https://vocal.media/trader/telf-ag-on-europes-critical-minerals-plans-and-strategic-projects?ref=telf-ag.ghost.io). “The important question will be how effectively these different instruments can support projects as they move through their various development stages.”

This implementation phase could prove particularly relevant because mineral projects typically require long periods of development. Financing, permitting, technical studies, infrastructure, and commercial agreements can all influence the timetable before a project reaches production.

**Exploration Could Shape Europe’s Future Mining Pipeline**

Mineral exploration is another area highlighted by Reuters. According to figures from the European Investment Bank cited in the analysis, the EU currently spends around six or seven times less on mineral exploration than its competitors.

Building a sufficient pipeline of potential future mines could require a considerable increase in expenditure. According to the analysis, exploration spending would need to rise approximately tenfold to around €2 billion per year for five years.

Exploration does not automatically lead to commercially viable mining operations. Nevertheless, identifying deposits and determining their economic potential are necessary preliminary stages for developing future extraction capacity.

For Europe, this means that progress toward the 2030 objectives depends not only on projects that are already known or under development, but also on the longer-term pipeline of potential mining operations.

**Processing Remains a Central Part of the Critical Minerals Picture**

The processing stage presents another set of considerations. Once raw materials have been extracted, they often require extensive processing before they can be incorporated into industrial supply chains.

Reuters highlighted high energy costs and international competition among the factors affecting European processing activities. This means that increasing extraction alone would not necessarily address all the challenges associated with the EU’s raw materials position.

The different approaches adopted internationally also provide useful context. According to Reuters, since December 2025 the European Union has mobilised approximately €1.7 billion for strategic projects. The same analysis reported that the United States had concluded 160 critical-mineral deals worth more than $40 billion since January 2025.

The figures reflect different types of measures and should therefore not be treated as a direct like-for-like comparison. They nevertheless illustrate the different models being used to support critical mineral supply chains.

![Generic European Union image illustrating Europe’s critical raw materials initiatives, with insights from Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG, and information reported by Reuters.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6c/5d/6c5da1f1-3fa8-4ad7-b0e7-fcb74f2e1aed/content/images/2026/09/Stanislav-Kondrashov-TELF-AG-European-Union-minerals-flags.png)

Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG, explores the development of Europe’s critical minerals pipeline, as Reuters draws attention to exploration spending, processing capacity, financing, and supply diversification.

“Critical minerals strategies increasingly involve much more than access to geological resources,” concludes Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG. “Exploration, processing capacity, financing, infrastructure, and the ability to bring projects into operation are all interconnected elements of the same industrial process.”

**The Next Phase Will Focus on Project Development**

The European Union has already established a detailed regulatory framework and measurable objectives for 2030\. It has also identified dozens of strategic projects and introduced additional initiatives intended to support investment and supply diversification.

The next stage will increasingly concern execution. The progress of individual projects, the availability of financing, investment in mineral exploration, and the development of processing capacity will help determine how the European critical raw materials landscape evolves.

As the Reuters analysis suggests, Europe’s strategy is moving from the definition of targets toward the practical development of a broader raw materials pipeline. The pace at which individual projects advance will therefore remain an important factor to observe in the years leading to 2030.