EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act: Sámi Rights Protection

The Stockholm Environment Institute warns that the EU Critical Raw Materials Act may exacerbate human rights breaches and 'green colonialism' in the Sámi homeland. While welcoming the inclusion of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and FPIC in the draft, the authors argue these are insufficient due to gaps in national legislation in Sweden and Finland, the potential for weak certification schemes, and the lack of resources for Sámi communities to engage with fast-tracked licensing. They propose an EU-level oversight mechanism, stricter certification standards requiring FPIC, and a funding mechanism to support affected rights-holders.

• The proposed EU Critical Raw Materials Act risks compounding existing human rights breaches and 'green colonialism' in the Sámi homeland, potentially failing its own goal of accelerating mineral extraction due to increased resistance from environmental and Sámi groups.
• The draft act's reliance on Member State bureaucracies for consultation is flawed because national laws in Finland and Sweden lack effective provisions for Sámi rights in environmental licensing and mineral laws, rendering EU-level FPIC provisions potentially ineffective.
• The act allows developers to use certification schemes to prove compliance, but these schemes currently lack explicit references to FPIC or Indigenous rights protections, creating a risk of a 'race to the bottom' in standards.
• Fast-tracked licensing processes under the act do not provide the time or financial resources necessary for the Sámi to meaningfully participate in decision-making, which is a critical factor in the protection of Indigenous rights.
• To protect Sámi rights, the authors recommend three specific additions: an EU-level oversight mechanism for grievances, a requirement that recognized certification schemes adhere to FPIC, and a funding mechanism for affected rights-holders funded by mining companies.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2023). EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act: Sámi Rights Protection. https://www.sei.org/perspectives/eus-critical-raw-materials-act-sami-rights-protection/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act: Sámi Rights Protection. 2023. https://www.sei.org/perspectives/eus-critical-raw-materials-act-sami-rights-protection/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act: Sámi Rights Protection |date=10 November 2023 |url=https://www.sei.org/perspectives/eus-critical-raw-materials-act-sami-rights-protection/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2023eus, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act: Sámi Rights Protection}}, publisher = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://www.sei.org/perspectives/eus-critical-raw-materials-act-sami-rights-protection/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }