EU targets simpler, less fragmented rules on raw materials recycling
By Louis de Briant ( May 21, 2026, 13:46 GMT | Insight) -- The European Commission is focusing its raw materials overhaul on simplifying rules for reuse and recovery. In addition, it wants to reduce fragmentation inside the EU single market, which it says is preventing critical raw materials from being recycled and processed efficiently within Europe. Industry representatives warned that high energy costs, weak demand incentives, slow permitting and continued exports of scrap and secondary materials are undermining investment in Europe’s recycling and metals-processing sectors.The European Commission acknowledged that fragmentation inside the EU single market remains a major barrier to recycling and recovery rules of critical raw materials such as cobalt, nickel and graphite that the bloc needs for clean technologies....
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