Europe's Raw Material Policy Under Pressure Two Interviews, One Message: Without swift action, Europe's industrial base erodes.
The discussion about secure supply chains is no longer merely a specialist topic – it is a core question of European competitiveness. Two recent interviews with Andreas Kroll, CEO of Noble Elements GmbH, underscore this urgency: one with Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) and one with POLITICO Pro (Frida Preuß, Feb 19, 2026).
Both conversations paint a clear picture:
Europe is losing time – and with it, strategic options.
GTAI: Without secure supply chains, we lose jobs and cutting-edge technology
In an interview with Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), Kroll emphasizes that a lack of raw material security is increasingly becoming a disadvantage for business locations. Without reliable purchase guarantees, Western mining projects can hardly be financed. At the same time, industrial companies shy away from long-term contracts due to concerns about price fluctuations.
The result:
Projects remain unfunded – while China and the USA have long been taking action.
A possible solution outlined by Kroll:
Minimum price guarantees or strategic stockpiling by the state. Not as interventionism, but as an instrument for planning certainty. Because:
No bank financing without price guarantees.
No mine without financing.
No supply security without a mine.
POLITICO: "Europe must hurry"
Kroll is even more explicit in an interview with Frida Preuß from POLITICO Pro:
“Many of our medium-sized clients are asking themselves whether they should relocate their production to the USA – not because of electricity prices, but because of the uncertain raw material supply at unpredictable prices.”
The USA is pursuing an aggressive raw material strategy. They are securing mines worldwide, offering purchase guarantees, and enforcing industrial policy quotas. Europe, however, is losing projects due to regulatory hurdles.
A concrete example:
A mining project supported by Noble Elements could have supplied high-quality rare earth concentrate within 18 months – but failed due to extraction regulations. Today, the USA and Japan are negotiating with the same operators.
The findings from the international discussions are clear:
“Europeans need to hurry up, otherwise there won’t be many exciting projects left.”
Industry Under Pressure
The situation is already palpable:
- Large industrial corporations are seeking emergency supplies.
- SMEs are partly producing below capacity.
- Strategic metals are becoming a geopolitical leverage.
Rare earths and technology metals are not just any commodity – they are a prerequisite for:
- Electric mobility
- Semiconductors
- Defense Technology
- Robotics
- Energy transition
Whoever controls access controls industrial development.
What is needed now
A consistent demand emerges from both interviews:
- Bundling industrial demands
Only large purchase volumes create negotiating power. - Minimum prices and state-backed planning certainty
Not to distort markets, but to enable investments. - Diversification quotas outside China
Following the US model. - More speed in international partnerships
Projects in Africa or Central Asia are decided now – not in five years.
Conclusion
Europe faces a strategic decision:
React or shape.
Without secure, diversified supply chains, Europe loses not only raw materials – but also industrial value creation, jobs, and technological sovereignty.
The interviews with GTAI and POLITICO Pro make it clear:
The time for a strategic raw material policy is now.