Critical Raw Materials
Position Paper
26 Feb 2023
Digital, Environment, Trade, Energy, Corporate sustainability

The European Commission’s proposal for the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act will be essential for the functioning of the EU’s Green Deal Industrial Plan and the green and digital transitions. CRMs are critical components of the transportation, energy and digital economy sectors, among others, but they are often in short supply and/or regionally concentrated in third countries. To increase and diversify the supply of CRMs in the EU, policymakers should not only bolster domestic supply by streamlining permitting procedures and increasing access to project financing cooperation with likeminded partners and multiple resource vironmental, social and governance but should also pursue international rich countries that share the EU’s values. EU CRM sourcing should be in line with applicable circular economy, product design and en standards. The CRM Act should also look to the future by ensuring regulatory certainty and creating a process for the identification and notification of new CRMs.

Related items

Position Paper
13 May 2026

Strengthening Europe’s cybersecurity framework through simplification

The review of the Cybersecurity Act (CSA 2.0) is an opportunity to build a more coherent, outcome-oriented EU cybersecurity framework. While the proposal recognises fragmentation across the Single Market, further simplification is needed to reduce overlaps and support effective compliance.

A harmonised approach to risk assessment and supervision can strengthen resilience while avoiding duplicative obligations. Certification and supply-chain measures should remain risk-based, objective, technical and aligned with international standards. Structured industry engagement and clear designation thresholds under the ICT Supply Chain Framework and a secure-by-design approach to policymaking will be essential to support cybersecurity and global interoperability. Read more on how CSA 2.0 can strengthen resilience across the Single Market.

Digital
Read more
Read more about Strengthening Europe’s cybersecurity framework through simplification
News
29 Apr 2026

Revision of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation: Following a balanced Report, trilogues must secure simplification

Today, the European Parliament adopted its Omnibus VI report, including the revision of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation, by 540 votes to 60. The outcome supports a more streamlined framework by easing the regulatory burden on value chains that rely on chemicals and sending a positive signal of the EU’s commitment to reducing unnecessary complexity.

With the Council’s position agreed in November 2025, the Parliament’s report marks the final step before trilogues, which will conclude negotiations on the targeted revision of the CLP Regulation.

The report largely aligns with the Commission’s simplification agenda and strengthens the CLP Regulation’s overall workability, especially with regards to:

  • Transition periods, setting 18 months following classification updates and allowing digital contact information to be updated on the label in line with suppliers’ regular update cycles. This better reflects supply chain realities.

  • Advertising and distance sales requirements, appropriately excluding business-to-business settings while ensuring consumers remain protected; and

  • Label legibility requirements, with more proportionate minimum font sizes and rules on background contrast, spacing and overall layout. However, further simplification is still needed to ensure sufficient flexibility for businesses.

While the report represents a constructive step forward, trilogues should address remaining constraints and clarify language that is currently difficult to interpret, including further simplification on font sizes and advertising requirements in business-to-consumer settings. These negotiations should draw on the more proportionate approaches of the Commission and the Council.

Maintaining a strong focus on simplification will be key to further alleviating administrative burdens and strengthening the EU’s resilience and competitiveness.

Environment
Read more
Read more about Revision of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation: Following a balanced Report, trilogues must secure simplification
Position Paper
29 Apr 2026

Simplifying the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation: recommendations for trilogues

On 8 July 2025, the Commission presented the Omnibus VI simplification package, reopening key legislation such as the CLP Regulation, which entered into force in December 2024. The Omnibus addresses overlaps and inconsistencies that create practical challenges and, in some cases, make compliance unworkable.


Upcoming trilogues can streamline the framework and reduce unnecessary burdens. This paper sets out targeted recommendations on the positions that can achieve meaningful simplification during the inter-institutional negotiations.

Environment
Read more
Read more about Simplifying the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation: recommendations for trilogues