The European Union is intensifying its efforts to diversify its supplies of critical minerals by turning to Brazil, considered a strategic partner in the global competition for access to resources essential for the energy transition and new technologies.
In an interview with Reuters, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela explained that Brussels was proposing an agreement to strengthen cooperation with Brazil while supporting the South American country's development goals.
This initiative is part of the European Union's commitment to reducing its dependence on a limited number of suppliers of strategic raw materials. Critical minerals, particularly rare earth elements, are essential for the manufacture of batteries, wind turbines, electric vehicles, semiconductors, and numerous technological devices.
During his visit to Brazil, Jozef Síkela visited the rare earth research and processing center of Viridis Mining and Minerals, located in Poços de Caldas, in the state of Minas Gerais. This site is one of four priority projects selected to accelerate cooperation between the European Union and Brazil in the field of strategic raw materials.
For Brussels, Brazil possesses major advantages thanks to its significant mineral reserves and its potential for industrial development. The European Union therefore wishes to establish long-term partnerships that are not limited to resource extraction, but also include processing, research, and investment.
This initiative comes amid increased competition among major powers to secure access to critical minerals. Faced with the dominance of certain players in global supply chains, the European Union seeks to build a network of reliable partners to strengthen its economic and industrial security for years to come.
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