The New Era of Extractivism: analysis of the European Critical Raw Materials Act between War and Green Transition

In April 2024, the European Parliament adopted the Critical Raw Materials Act, a framework presented to strengthen the production and supply of minerals considered Critical for key areas like the Green Energy Transition and the Defence Sector. Its objective is to increase the internal production of Materials through the reopening of mining sites, together with a new plan of exploration set to locate new mining zones within the Member States. The Act also focuses on strengthening relationships with third countries through the promotion of partnered projects, to widen the net of suppliers and make the Union less vulnerable to supply disruption. With a strong focus on Recycling, Circularity, and Sustainability, the CRMA shows a willingness to be a turning point in achieving a Green Transition and lowering emissions in the EU. But is this the real objective the EU wants to achieve? Recent geopolitical events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war exposed the vulnerability of the EU to the disruption of Supply chains, while the escalating USA-China rivalry enhanced the sense of global instability and brought the EU to focus on Defence and rearmament. In 2025, the REArm Europe Plan was published, a framework set to supply €800 billions for European rearmament. Critical Raw Materials play a key role in the production of weapons and military equipment, and the escalating production must be met with an increased supply of these materials. Furthermore, the mining industry has some of the most impactful effects on the environment and societies, leaving after effects that damage the affected areas for centuries; not to mention, CRMs are non-renewable materials, and a Green Energy Transition starting from these bases raises doubts on its effectiveness. Through the study and comparison of official documentation, together with the analysis of two case studies, this thesis aims to answer the following question: can the CRMA lay solid foundations for the Green Transition and break from the logic of extractivism, or is it just an asset for implementing the EU's economic interests, especially of the Defence/Military sector?