Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

▸10 unchanged paragraphs

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending regulation (EU) 2024/1252

(COM(2025)0946 – C100324/2025 – 2025/0385(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2025)0946),

– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C100324/2025),

– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 18 February 2026,

– having regard to Rule 60 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinions of the Committee on Development and the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety,

Changed– having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (A100000/2026),(A10-0192/2026),

1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Change 1

RemovedRecital 3: (3) Under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, the Commission is required to set up calls for application for Strategic Projects. In order to ensure predictability for applicants while maintaining sufficient administrative flexibility, the Commission should set cut-off dates for such calls at least twice per year. Establishing a minimum frequency of calls ensures regular opportunities for project promoters to submit applications and to respond to evolving programme needs, increased demand for project recognition, and timely assessment of applications. / In addition, the Commission could be able to organise additional targeted calls, where appropriate. Such calls should take into account the whole value-chain approach that links different stages of the value chain, including extraction, processing, refining, manufacturing, recycling and downstream demand.

Added2025/0385 (COD)

RemovedRecital 4: (4) Under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, Member States are required to identify large companies by May 2025 and within 12 months of each update of the list of strategic raw materials pursuant to Article 3(3). Nevertheless, large companies that use strategic raw materials can operate in more than one Member State. To avoid a duplication of the identification of these large companies by the various national administrations and to prevent a risk of fragmentation of the Single Market, it should be for the Commission to identify these large companies operating in the Union.

AddedProposal for a

RemovedRecital 5: (5) It is essential to strengthen the risk preparedness of the large companies that are identified by the Commission, it is essential that their obligations are strengthened, and therefore large companies should be required to take measures to mitigate their vulnerabilities including reducing the use of strategic raw material, by improving material efficiency, diversifying their strategic raw material supply chain, considering secondary raw materials, or to substituting the strategic raw material or by replenishing of stocks of strategic raw materials, including, where appropriate, through the joint purchasing mechanism referred to in Regulation (EU) 2024/1252; the Commission should be able to receive the information regarding their compliance necessary for an effective monitoring and ensure they are prepared in case of supply disruption. The Commission should specify the mitigation measures that large companies should adopt in case of vulnerabilities, it should be able to do so by means of delegated acts. The Commission could issue guidance and appropriate tools for how companies should fulfil reporting obligations, in consultation with Member States and stakeholders, to facilitate compliance in a practical manner.

AddedREGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

RemovedRecital 8: (8) The increased use of recovered raw materials would support the development of the circular economy and allow for a more resource-efficient use of raw materials from permanent magnets, while reducing the Union’s dependency on raw materials from third countries. Therefore, including manufacturing waste could help establish a European recycling industry in the short term. The recognition of manufacturing waste recycled materials complements, the recovery of post-consumer waste by ensuring that manufacturers can improve short-term resource efficiency while maintaining strong incentives to build and expand end-of-life collection and recycling system. However, reutilisation of materials, such as rework, regrind or scrap generated in the permanent magnet manufacturing process, which can be reclaimed within the same process that generated the material, do not constitute waste and should therefore not be seen as part of the recycled content shares of permanent magnets under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252. Target trajectories for each raw material should fully consider the actual recycling potential for manufacturing and post-consumer waste, taking into account Union-originated waste to ensure ambitions are technically achievable and drive genuine investment in post-consumer waste. Future increases in recycled content targets should be reflected in the increase of post-consumer waste shares rather than raising manufacturing waste shares.

Addedamending Regulation (EU) 2024/1252

RemovedRecital 8 a (new): (8a) The Union faces a potential shortage of rare earth elements, which are critical for the production of permanent magnets and essential for strategic industries. Ensuring that recyclable materials remain within the Union will enhance industrial resilience and reinforce the security and reliability of the Union’s supply chains. In this context, the Commission could by way of a thorough assessment that takes due account of its international obligations and partnerships with third countries, propose restrictions on the export of scraps and waste of permanent magnets from the Union. Such export restrictions should be used judiciously and targeted to specific material streams. By leveraging trade data, the Commission could identify the streams where secondary material losses are most significant, ensuring that any restrictions are proportionate and effective.

Added(Text with EEA relevance)

RemovedRecital 8 b (new): (8b) In order to accelerate investment in extraction, processing and recycling capacities for critical raw materials within the Union, it is necessary to address significant market risks, including price volatility and lengthy project investment cycles associated with such projects. Price-stabilisation mechanisms, including financial hedging mechanisms such as Contracts for Difference could provide greater revenue certainty for project developers, while ensuring that public support remains proportionate and responsive to market conditions. Member States and the Commission should explore the use of such instruments to support Strategic Projects under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, including in relation to Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) projects in accordance with Union’s State Aid rules.

AddedTHE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

RemovedRecital 8 c (new): (8c) Strategic raw materials are often subject to concentrated supply chains and geopolitical risks that may lead to sudden supply disruptions. In order to strengthen the Union’s preparedness and resilience, improved coordination among Member States regarding strategic stocks of such materials is necessary. The joint purchasing mechanism established under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 could, where appropriate, facilitate the coordinated establishment or replenishment of strategic stocks by participating undertakings and Member States.

AddedHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114, thereof,

RemovedRecital 8 d (new): (8d) Whereas promoting material efficiency, circularity, and technology diversification can mitigate supply risks, enhance strategic autonomy, and support a sustainable industrial ecosystem, it is appropriate to facilitate the development and deployment of technologies, manufacturing processes, and promote product designs that minimise the use of critical raw materials, foster substitution and recycling under the current and future competitiveness policy frameworks and funds.

AddedHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

RemovedRecital 8 e (new): (8e) National and European research and innovation programmes play a key role in strengthening the Union’s resilience in the supply of critical and strategic raw materials. European research and innovation programmes and dedicated funding instruments could support efforts to diversify the supply of such materials and to develop innovative solutions across their value chains. Particular attention should be given to the development of circular business models, substitution and material efficiency, with the objective of reducing the overall demand for critical and strategic raw materials in strategic technologies.

AddedAfter transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

RemovedRecital 8 f (new): (8f) Achieving higher recycling rates requires significantly improving the identification, separate collection and treatment of products, components and waste streams containing critical raw materials. The evaluation of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 in 2028 should therefore assess whether additional Union measures are necessary to ensure the effective recovery of critical raw materials, in particular the necessity of the binding nature of the benchmarks currently sets out in Regulation (EU) 2024/1252. Moreover, a substantial share of such materials is currently lost due to insufficient collection. In particular, the Commission should, as part of the evaluation of further measures to increase the collection, sorting and processing of waste referred to in Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, assess the necessity and feasibility of establishing Union-level waste collection targets for products, components or waste streams containing critical raw materials.

AddedHaving regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee,

RemovedRecital 8 g (new): (8g) Strengthening the resilience of the Union’s critical raw materials value chains is essential for both economic security and the Union’s security and defence capabilities. Defence-related demand can unlock investments in strategic projects across the critical raw materials value chain and act as a catalyst generating positive spillovers for dual-use technologies and industrial ecosystems. The Union should therefore leverage relevant financial instruments and programmes such as the forthcoming European Defence Industry Programme to de-risk and accelerate Strategic Projects.

AddedHaving regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions,

RemovedRegulation (EU) 2024/1252

AddedActing in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new), Article 2 – paragraph – point 32 a (new): (-1) in Article 2, the following point is inserted: / (32a) ‘manufacturing waste’ means the materials or objects rejected during the manufacturing process such as regrind material or scrap, which cannot be re-used as an integral part in the same process and need to be recycled;

AddedWhereas:

RemovedRegulation (EU) 2024/1252

Added(1) Since the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 on 23 May 2024, the Commission has been collecting data and information from stakeholders and Member States concerning the implementation of it. However, as highlighted by the European Court of Auditors in Special Report 04/2026 on critical raw materials, the Union’s raw materials policy still lacks sufficient data and monitoring to fully assess supply chain vulnerabilities and progress towards its strategic objectives. Strengthening data collection, transparency and monitoring across the critical raw materials value chain is therefore essential and should support the 2028 review of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1, Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2: The first such cut-off date shall be no later than 24 August 2024. The Commission shall set cut-off dates at least two times per year. / The Commission may also open additional calls for applications for targeted projects, which shall take into account the whole value-chain approach and their contribution to programme objectives, where appropriate;

Added(2) The Union’s excessive reliance on imports from a limited number of third countries creates strategic vulnerabilities and exposes European industries to supply disruptions and external political pressure. Access to secure and sustainable critical raw materials is essential for the Union’s objectives of clean and digital transition as set out in the Clean Industrial Deal. They are also essential components for the Union’s industries, in all areas including defence. The development of Strategic Projects and the scaling of critical raw materials value chains within the Union also depends on the availability of adequate enabling infrastructure and a coherent regulatory framework that avoids creating disproportionate barriers to the development of such projects within the Union. The Union should therefore take into account the full range of essential raw materials and infrastructure requirements associated with those strategic objectives and ensure policy coherence between this Regulation and future Union initiatives. Due to the current geopolitical situation the Union’s supply and security of critical raw materials is put at risk and therefore, the current framework should be strengthened, while ensuring compliance with applicable social and environmental standards and democratic processes. The Commission should monitor and oversee compliance and support Member States in the implementation of those standards.

RemovedRegulation (EU) 2024/1252

Added(3) Under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, the Commission is required to set up calls for application for Strategic Projects. In order to ensure predictability for applicants while maintaining sufficient administrative flexibility, the Commission should set cut-off dates for such calls at least twice per year. Establishing a minimum frequency of calls ensures regular opportunities for project promoters to submit applications and to respond to evolving programme needs, increased demand for project recognition, and timely assessment of applications. In addition, the Commission should be able to organise additional targeted calls, where appropriate. Such calls should take into account the whole value-chain approach that links different stages of the value chain, including extraction, processing, refining, manufacturing, recycling and downstream demand. Moreover, the Commission should in parallel take all necessary measures to streamline and further develop its procedures in order to accelerate the processing of applications, without compromising the quality of the assessment.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d, Article 24 – paragraph 4: 4. If significant vulnerabilities to supply disruptions are detected as a result of the risk assessment referred to in paragraph 2, large companies as referred to under paragraph 1 shall take efforts to mitigate those vulnerabilities including reducing the use of strategic raw materials, by improving material efficiency, diversifying its strategic raw materials supply chains, considering secondary raw materials, or substituting the strategic raw materials or by replenishing of stocks of strategic raw materials, including, where appropriate, through the joint purchasing mechanism referred to in Regulation (EU) 2024/1252;

Added(4) Under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, Member States are required to identify large companies by May 2025 and within 12 months of each update of the list of strategic raw materials pursuant to Article 3(3). Nevertheless, large companies that use strategic raw materials can operate in more than one Member State. To avoid a duplication of the identification of these large companies by the various national administrations and to prevent a risk of fragmentation of the Single Market, it should be for the Commission to identify these large companies operating in the Union. In the course of determining which companies qualify as large, the Commission should notify the Member States where those companies are active, as well as to facilitate coordination with national authorities. The Commission should be able to issue guidance and appropriate tools for how companies should fulfil reporting obligations, in consultation with Member States and stakeholders, to facilitate compliance in a practical manner.

RemovedRegulation (EU) 2024/1252

Added(5) It is essential to strengthen the risk preparedness of the large companies that are identified by the Commission, it is essential that their obligations are strengthened, and therefore large companies should be required to take measures to mitigate their vulnerabilities, including reducing the use of strategic raw materials, by improving material and resource efficiency, by diversifying their strategic raw material supply chain, including switching to Union-based or Union-owned suppliers, prioritising secondary raw materials, or by substituting the strategic raw material or by building up of stocks of strategic raw materials, including, where appropriate, through the joint purchasing mechanism referred to in Regulation (EU) 2024/1252. The Commission should be able to receive the information regarding their compliance necessary for an effective monitoring and ensure they are prepared in case of supply disruption. The Commission should specify the range of possible mitigation measures that large companies should adopt in the case of vulnerabilities, considering all types of measures, including measures related to circularity, resource efficiency and substitution of strategic raw materials, it should be able to do so by means of delegated acts. When specifying risk mitigation measures pursuant to this Regulation, the Commission should take into account the availability and costs of alternative sources of supply, the opinion of the CRMA Board, and the specific characteristics and applications of different critical raw materials. The delegated acts should provide tailored risk mitigation measures from which large companies should select those most appropriate to their specific circumstances, while ensuring that such measures do not impose a disproportionate burden on Union companies relative to the strategic objective pursued.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point f, Article 24 – paragraph 5a: 5a. The Commission may request large companies referred to in paragraph 1 to explain how they comply with the obligations set out in this Article. They shall provide that information no later than 30 days after receiving the request from the Commission. The Commission may support companies with guidance, training, and appropriate tools to facilitate compliance.

Added(5a) Whereas promoting material efficiency, circularity, and technology diversification can mitigate supply risks, enhance strategic autonomy, and support a sustainable industrial ecosystem, it is appropriate to facilitate the development and deployment of technologies, manufacturing processes, and promote product designs that minimise the use of critical raw materials, foster substitution and recycling under the current and future competitiveness policy frameworks and funds. Particular attention should be given to the development of circular business models, substitution and material efficiency, with the objective of strengthening resource resilience and reducing strategic dependencies in critical raw materials value chain, including by moderating demand growth for critical and strategic raw materials in strategic technologies and reducing dependence on specific materials through substitution and design optimisation.

RemovedRegulation (EU) 2024/1252

Added(5b) The International Energy Agency estimates that clean energy technologies could account for approximately 40% of global copper demand growth by 2040. Electricity networks in particular will drive global annual copper demand from 5 Mt to nearly 10 Mt by 2040. At the same time, both current and projected demand are expected to exceed available supply, highlighting copper supply constraints as a growing concern for distribution and transmission of electricity sectors. The Commission should therefore ensure that the list of products covered under this Regulation is reviewed and adapted to include product categories whose demand is expected to raise by a greater likelihood of electrification, so as to reflect evolving supply pressures across the full value chain.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point f, Article 24 – paragraph 5b – subparagraph 2: The Commission shall base such risk mitigation measures on an assessment of the available information on supply risks, demand and supply, price volatility, the trade flows and strategic partnerships between the Union and third countries, including measuring their contribution to the Union’s security of supply, and the potential obstacles to trade in critical raw materials and shall specify the maximum shares of reliance on a single third country in the supply chain of critical raw materials.;

Added(6) Large companies should, as part of that risk assessment, map in which countries the strategic raw materials they use are extracted, processed and recycled from, as well as the mapping of directly or indirectly owned or controlled entities from which they source strategic raw materials, and analyse the factors that could affect their supply and assess their vulnerabilities to supply disruptions. Such factors may include the lack of transparency, environmental safeguards, public participation, including insufficient engagement and acceptance of local and indigenous communities, as well as human and labour rights. Therefore, companies should, where relevant, take measures to improve access to information, to foster inclusive stakeholder engagement, and to uphold environmental standards. In order to have a clear understanding of their vulnerabilities, they should also map the supply chain of the components containing strategic raw materials. To reinforce their preparedness large companies should report on their risk assessment to the companies’ board of directors or management board. In that respect, where relevant, large companies concerned could set up internal monitoring capacities and processes to carry out those duties.

RemovedRegulation (EU) 2024/1252

Added(7) The Commission should continue to monitor the situation and the risk preparedness of large companies, ensuring their readiness in case of disruption of their supply chains. To that end, and when it decides so, the Commission can request information from large companies on their compliance and mitigation measures as required by this Regulation. The Commission should provide guidance to companies on how to perform supply chain mapping and risk assessments, with the aim of aligning both with the information the Commission may request.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 28 – paragraph 1 – introductory part: 1. From two years after the date of entry into force of the implementing act referred to in paragraph 2, any natural or legal person that places on the market magnetic resonance imaging devices, wind energy generators, industrial robots, motor vehicles, light means of transport, cooling generators, heat pumps, electric motors including where electric motors are integrated in other products, automatic washing machines, tumble driers, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, hard disk drives, transducers, loudspeakers, drones for civil use or motorised toys or any other relevant product which contains permanent magnets shall ensure that those products bear a conspicuous, clearly legible and indelible label indicating:;