EU critical minerals projects lag, China dominance persists

A Politico EU review finds most European mining, processing, and recycling projects for critical raw materials are behind schedule, undermining the bloc's stated goal of reducing dependence on China. The shortfall is a continuation of a known trend, but the scale of delay signals a structural gap between EU policy ambition and execution. This matters because it leaves Europe exposed to supply-chain leverage by China in sectors like defense, EVs, and electronics.