Report Launch: Resources for Europe: Financing critical mineral supply chains
Brussels, 29 October 2025 – EIES today launched a new report, 'Resources for Europe: Financing critical mineral supply chains,’ calling for the establishment of a European Minerals Investment Network (E-MIN) – a permanent platform to unite public and private investors, industrial offtakers, project developers across Europe and allied countries.
Beijing’s manipulation of and recent export restrictions on critical raw materials (CRMs) – many of which upon Europe holds more than a 90% import reliance – put Europe’s industrial base and economy at risk.
As China and the US pursue capital-backed political critical minerals agendas, the absence of a comprehensive European financial architecture exposes the continent’s limitations in catalysing necessary investment in critical mineral value chains.
To close this gap, Europe must accelerate cross-sector cooperation between multilateral and national financing institutions and private equity, specialised finance banks and insurers, a range of industrial offtakers – including the defence sector as an anchor – and project developers. Partnerships that blend public and private capital through hybrid financing and offtake structures, including price support mechanisms, and work towards common standards for investors and project developers, are vital to creating economically viable conditions, and fostering long-term investment in Europe.
The E-MIN would align with other European mandates, bridging the gap between policy goals and individual stakeholder risk appetite to enable effective joint financing and risk-sharing. Building it on the principle of structured public-private and supply-demand cooperation can lay the foundations for an independent, trusted and well-funded EU Critical Raw Materials Centre to monitor supply chains, support the procurement and stockpiling of materials, and ultimately build a more resilient CRM market.
"We can no longer afford a piecemeal approach to financing critical raw material supply chains. In facilitating coordination between investors, miners, processors and offtakers, E-MIN would turn policy ambitions into impactful projects and secure Europe's strategic autonomy," said Albéric Mongrenier, EIES Executive Director.
"Critical minerals projects are highly complex and even the most technically sound projects struggle to close as they face a broad range of financial, political, and regulatory risks. Strengthening transparency, communication, and coordination between public and private actors will support trust and strategic focus to finance these critical value chains," added Petya Barzilska, author of the report and EIES Head of Research and Policy.
EIES’ report supports decision-making and builds a shared understanding of how ambitious industrial policies can combine public-private partnerships, targeted financing instruments and de-risking tools to boost investment across the mineral value chain, from mining to processing and the manufacturing of end-products.
About EIES
The European Initiative for Energy Security (EIES) advocates for secure pan-European and national energy policies, dedicated to fostering collaboration between government and industry leaders. EIES seeks to address critical energy challenges and champion comprehensive solutions for the benefit of Europe's energy security, transition, and industrial competitiveness. EIES works with the Energy Security Leadership Council-Europe (ESLC-Europe), composed of retired military, former political and active business figures, to achieve these goals.
For more information, contact
ISABELLE DUPRAZ, Deputy Director, EIES
idupraz@secureenergy.org | +44 7808 580505 | London, UK
Image: Eramet manganese alloys smelter in Sauda, Norway