Marpole Daily Audit
EU budget offers chance to loosen China’s grip on critical raw materials for Europe
Source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/09/04/eu-budget-offers-chance-to-loosen-chinas-grip-on-critical-raw-materials-for-europe
Load-bearing word: grip
Europe’s dependence is real. China supplies 97% of the EU’s magnesium and refines all the rare earths used in its permanent magnets. That gives China major influence over industries producing cars, electronics and defence equipment. But “grip” oversimplifies the picture. China does not control every critical material, and other countries dominate supplies such as cobalt ore, nickel and boron. Europe has a serious concentration problem—not total Chinese control. The proposed EU budget could help diversify processing, but success depends on actual projects, not promises.
Measure: 88/100
euronews
EU budget sees chance to loosen China’s grip on critical raw materials
The EU says it wants to break its dependence on China for critical raw materials (CRM)—the next MFF (Multiannual Financial Framework) will test whether Brussels is serious about its sovereignty, argues Nora Kürzdörfer at the Munich Security Conference.
September 5, 2026 1 1
