Metals & Mining
The metal industries process non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, copper, and zinc; and ferrous materials such as steel. Both sectors are very important to the EU’s economy, competitiveness, and industrial development. The EU metallic minerals sector produces a wide range of ores yielding metals or metallic substances. The EU is an important producer of chromium, copper, lead, silver, and zinc. However, most metallic ores that supply the European metallic industry are imported. Only a few EU countries have active mines. They include Austria, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden.
Europe’s metals needs for its 2050 climate-neutrality goal echoes multiple warnings of supply risks for several metals needed in Europe’s energy transition away from fossil fuels. Strategic autonomy and climate change are rapidly changing thinking on Europe’s mental and mining sector. The EU has set 2030 targets for 34 minerals such as lithium and copper required for its green transition – to meet 10% of its annual needs from mining and 25% from recycling, and process 40% of its consumption in Europe. No country should supply more than 65% of a given mineral but for many minerals, the EU’s reliance on China surpasses this amount.
In March 2025 the European Commission launched the Steel and Metals Action Plan, one of the first sectors in Europe to get its own specific action plan under the new Commission. The Plan recognises that the metals sector is strategic for Europe in terms of the energy transition and defence.
Speaking at the release of the plan Dr Henrik Adam, President of the European Steel Association (EUROFER) said: “Despite the positive proposals from the Commission, energy remains the elephant in the room. High energy prices affect not only steel and metals production, but they are dragging down entire European industrial value chains. Further work to reduce energy costs is crucial”.