The project implemented by Center for European Studies (CEPS), responds to rising EU demand for critical raw materials (CRM) and shifting geopolitical realities by positioning the Western Balkans as a strategic partner. Given the region’s significant legacy of industrial waste and old mine tailings, recovering CRMs from secondary sources offers a sustainable alternative to new mining projects, which often face social resistance. Through an EU–Western Balkans partnership supported by an investment framework, the initiative aims to foster a green industrial base in the region while advancing the EU’s strategic autonomy and sustainability goals. It also seeks to launch a structured dialogue between Brussels-based stakeholders and Western Balkans actors to identify pathways for a mutually beneficial raw materials partnership.

Implementation period: October 2025 – June 2026