The European Union has announced support for 46 new projects focused on rare earths and other strategic metals, aiming to reduce its reliance on China. These projects involve the extraction, refining, and recycling of rare earths—materials critical for modern technology, including smartphones, electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems. The EU’s initiative responds to China’s near-monopoly on the refining of these materials, which has raised concerns about supply chain security. Last year, China imposed export restrictions that threatened to disrupt production in key European industries, such as automotive and wind power. Rare earths are a group of 17 chemically similar elements that are vital for many high-tech and industrial applications. They are used in everything from magnets in wind turbines and electric cars to components in digital devices and defense systems. The 46 new projects, which include six in France, are spread across 16 countries. They are divided into eight focused on mining, 11 on refining, and 19 on recycling, with some combining these activities. These projects build on 47 existing EU projects and 13 in third countries, all aimed at strengthening the EU’s supply chains for metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths used in permanent magnets. To support these efforts, European governments have already allocated 2 billion euros in funding. While some have criticized the pace of implementation, officials note that 25 of the initial projects have completed environmental impact studies, and 17 have received building permits through an expedited process. The EU is also working to connect suppliers with industrial customers to accelerate the development of the region’s rare earth industry. "There are mines opening, factories being built, signed funding, and value chains emerging," said Stéphane Séjourné, the European Commission’s executive vice-president for industry. The EU plans to launch a new call for projects by the end of the year, continuing its push to build a self-sufficient supply of critical materials. Séjourné emphasized the importance of European industries relying on their own capabilities and industrial strength. "The survival of our industries must depend on our own choices, our own capabilities, and our own industrial power," he said, highlighting the broader goal of reducing dependency on external sources for strategic resources.