Critical raw materials have been at the forefront of public debate in Europe for some time. As COVID and lockdowns disrupted international supply chains, EU industry and policymakers became painfully aware of the need to secure Europe's supply of critical raw materials in order to make the transition to a zero-carbon economy.

As the EU co-legislators prepare to discuss and negotiate Europe's Critical Raw Materials Act, Maurizio Mensi and Michal Pinter, rapporteur and co-rapporteur of the EESC opinion on the draft legislation, set out what needs to be done to make sure that it can really serve European Industry.