Member State experts meeting in the EU Council’s ‘industry’ working party on Monday 12 January have not yet given their approval to the European Commission to negotiate a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on raw materials with the United States (see EUROPE 13783/9).
This item, which was initially due to be submitted for adoption to the Committee of Permanent Representatives on 14 January, was ultimately withdrawn. The Commission had asked the EU Council for such a mandate in December, a source pointed out.
The matter could also be referred to the Trade branch and ‘Coreper II’ to link it to the trade agreement signed between the EU and the United States.
On Monday, the Member States were reportedly not opposed to the Commission negotiating such a memorandum of understanding with the United States on raw materials of mutual interest, but some delegations deplored the Commission’s lack of information and haste.
The next steps were not yet communicated at this working party meeting.
The EU has already negotiated around fifteen such memorandums of understanding with third countries. These negotiations are part of the Critical Raw Materials Act, which aims to strengthen European supplies of essential raw materials.
G7. The G7 economy and finance ministers, joined by representatives from Mexico, South Korea and New Zealand, held a meeting in Washington on 12 January on the subject of critical minerals, at the initiative of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The French G7 Presidency will give a great deal of importance to “critical minerals, the oil of tomorrow”, explained French minister Pierre Lescure, notably through a high-level committee on this subject. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic with Mathieu Bion)