The EU and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed, under the InvestEU umbrella, an agreement on a new facility providing equity investments for the exploration and development of critical and strategic raw materials, aiming to mobilise around €100 million in investments.
These raw materials are essential for the EU's digital and green transitions. The EU supports developing sustainable projects for critical raw materials (CRM) to reduce the risk of potential supply chain disruptions, ensuring that industrial sectors have the necessary resources while maintaining EU environmental and social standards.
The new joint facility will support the objectives of the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act and the REPowerEU Plan. The EU contribution amounts to €25 million from the Horizon Europe Programme, matched by another €25 million from the EBRD, with the joint facility aiming to leverage a further €50 million.
The facility leverages the EBRD's extensive experience in financing mining projects, facilitating early-stage equity investments in operations within EU Member States and EBRD countries outside of the EU covered by the Horizon Europe programme. The facility will fund responsible exploration activities delivered under high climate, governance, environmental, and social standards, aligned with the EBRD's rigorous Paris Agreement and Environmental and Social Policy screening.
