Balancing Priorities: Stakeholder Influence in the Adoption of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act

This paper analyses the political contestations and rapid adoption of the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), passed by the European Parliament in December 2023, just nine months after the European Commission’s initial proposal. The CRMA aims to secure the EU’s critical raw materials supply to meet the demands of decarbonization, digitalization, and strategic autonomy; EU’s goal of reducing its dependence on external suppliers and enhancing control over its supply chains. The CRMA sets ambitious targets for extraction, processing, and recycling, but questions remain about how the regulation balances economic priorities with social and environmental concerns, and how the voices of diverse stakeholders, particularly the influence of industry, shaped the final regulation. Through qualitative document analysis of the consultation process, and interviews with Commission and industry representatives, this study explores which interests were prioritized, how competing views were managed, and what facilitated the CRMA’s expedited adoption. By applying the Advocacy Coalition Framework and governance theory, the study explores the formal decision-making structures and the informal dynamics of power and influence, thereby shedding light on the governance of critical raw materials. It also considers the implications for future resource policies, particularly in relation to the EU’s broader sustainability goals embedded within the European Green Deal.