Chapter 6: A Multi-stakeholder Policy Perspective of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act: The Case of Lithium Mining

This chapter applies a multi-stakeholder policy perspective to discuss the implications of the recently proposed European Union (EU) Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) in the context of facilitating mining processes to upscale lithium extraction in Europe. Utilising semi-structured interviews to gather insights from relevant stakeholders along the lithium value chain, this chapter presents significant findings concerning the relocation of lithium extraction within the EU, as mandated by the CRMA. This relocation entails complex socio-economic and environmental trade-offs while also contributing to the realisation of the objectives outlined in the EU Green Deal. A key contribution of our study is the identification of essential policy recommendations for the effective management and preservation of resources within the EU, supporting sustainable production and consumption in both the short and long term. These recommendations aim to balance the economic benefits of resource extraction with the imperative of environmental sustainability, providing a valuable framework for policymakers and stakeholders in navigating the complexities of resource management in the EU.