Sustainability or Exploitation? Perceptions of the CRM Act in North Macedonia

The European Union's green transition, heralded as a move toward greater sustainability, has introduced the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act, which came into effect on 23 May 2024. This policy aims to secure essential resources for the EU’s green technologies by decreasing reliance on certain non-EU sources and establishing a sustainable supply chain for 16 critical raw materials. The CRM Act is framed as a key component of the EU’s broader ecological strategy, intended to support the transition to greener technologies and reduce environmental impact. However, the CRM Act has sparked concerns about reinforcing existing power imbalances between the EU and its non-EU neighbours. The “Western Balkans”, a region comprised of six states aspiring to join the EU, has been identified as a crucial source of many of the critical raw materials covered by the CRM Act. Despite the EU’s stated commitment to sustainability and partnership, there are growing concerns that the CRM Act may exacerbate existing inequalities. Critics argue that the policy could lead to significant environmental degradation and health risks from raw material extraction, contrasting starkly with the EU's sustainability claims. Protests have erupted in response to proposed mining operations under the CRM Act across the “Western Balkan” region, including in North Macedonia, which has been identified for its copper deposits. They highlight local discontent and fears about health and environmental impacts and exposing a gap between the EU’s sustainability rhetoric and the experiences of affected communities. This chapter will employ a Foucauldian perspective to critically analyse the CRM Act’s influence on dissent related to EU external actions in North Macedonia. By applying Foucault’s concept of 'power/knowledge,' the analysis will reveal how the CRM Act’s sustainability narratives serve to obscure underlying neocolonial dynamics. This approach will scrutinize the impact of the CRM Act on the legitimacy and effectiveness of EU external actions, challenging the perception that these actions are genuinely progressive, mutually beneficial, or sustainable. Through this lens, the study aims to uncover the complexities and contradictions inherent in the EU's green transition policies.