EU Policy News

EU publishes list of critical raw materials.

June 18, 2010

The availibilty of raw materials that are an essential part of both high tech products and every-day consumer products, such as mobile phones, thin layer photovoltaics, Lithium-ion batteries, fibre optic cable, synthetic fuels, among others is increasingly under pressure according to a report, published on June 17, by an expert group chaired by the European Commission. In this first ever overview on the state of access to raw materials in the EU, the experts label a selection of 14 raw materials as “critical” out of 41 minerals and metals analysed.

The growing demand for raw materials is driven by the growth of developing economies and new emerging technologies. The list was established in the framework of the 2008 EU Raw Materials Initiative1 in close cooperation with Member States and stakeholders. The results of the report will be used for the drafting of a forthcoming communication on strategies to ensure access to raw materials which the Commission will publish in autumn 2010.

Third JTI Call for proposals is out.

June 18, 2010

The Official Journal of the EU , announced  in its June 18 , 2010 issue the publication of the third Call for proposals of the Joint Undertaking for Fuel Cell  and Hydrogen. Call information has been published on the Cordis website. A little over € 89 mln is available for Transport, hydrogen production and stationary applications as well as early markets.  The Deadline for proposals is October 13, 2010.

EC launches publication on European Industrial Initiatives on Energy

June 8, 2010

The European Commission published an overview of the European Industrial Initiaitves that are being established under the EU Strategic Energy Technology Plan ( SET-Plan).   The core idea behind the SET Plan is to make low-carbon technologies more affordable and competitive. The EU’s approach focuses on the European Industrial Initiatives (EII). Industry-led, the EIIs aim to strengthen industrial participation in energy research and demonstration, boost innovation and accelerate deployment of low-carbon energy technologies. EIIs target sectors in which working at EU level adds most value, and technologies for which the barriers, the scale of the investment and the risk involved can be better tackled collectively. The Joint Undertaking for Fuel Cells and Hydrogen was the first Initiative approved under the SET Plan. The spanish presidnecy unveiled three new EII’s on June 3.   The publication can be downloaded here.