Three years ago, the European Union identified a list of 'critical' raw materials, all minerals and metals. These raw materials are subject to a 'higher risk of supply interruption'. Indeed, as the governments and corporations in the EU have outsourced many of the 'dirty' mining explorations to other parts of the world, it now becomes clear that the European industry is lacking some of the most critical raw materials and natural resources in Europe itself. Among them are many fairly unknown examples to the wider public, such as antimony, beryllium and fluorspar or more renowned examples such as rare earths and coltan.

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