CBAM Reporting Tightens: CRM Importers Face Stricter Verification as 2026 Approaches

In mid-November 2025, the European Commission finalized the first official list of "Strategic Projects" under the European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). This milestone marks a concrete step toward reducing the EU’s heavy reliance on third countries for vital elements such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements (REE).

Out of more than 160 applications submitted by various member states and international partners earlier this year, 28 projects have been granted strategic status. These projects span mining, processing, and recycling facilities across Europe and key partner nations. According to EU projections, the selected initiatives are expected to cover up to 15% of the EU’s annual lithium demand and 12% of its permanent magnet processing needs by 2028.

For CRM traders and industrial consumers, this development introduces new dynamics. Projects with strategic status will benefit from streamlined permitting processes—capped at 24 months for extraction projects and 12 months for processing facilities—vastly faster than the historical average of 5–8 years. Additionally, they will receive prioritized access to public and private financing, including funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB). As supply chains gradually onshore, GranTi analysts expect initial domestic production volumes to stabilize prices by late 2026, offering European manufacturers a buffer against geopolitical export restrictions.