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This report by Ember argues that Europe can enhance its energy security and economic resilience by transitioning from a dependency on volatile fossil fuel imports to a system based on electrification and clean technology. It highlights that the EU already possesses a strong domestic manufacturing base for several key technologies and explains why dependencies on clean tech imports are fundamentally less risky than those for fossil fuels.

This research paper examines the potential for triangular cooperation between the European Union (EU), Indonesia, and African nations in the critical raw materials (CRM) sector. It argues that while the EU and Indonesia currently employ different partnership models in Africa—the EU focusing on supply chain integration and ESG standards, and Indonesia focusing on downstream industrialisation and South-South cooperation—these differences are complementary. The authors propose a framework where EU financial instruments and ESG expertise combine with Indonesia's technical experience in mineral processing to support African goals of local value addition and industrialisation, thereby reducing all parties' dependence on China.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines how European companies manage the trade-offs between sustainability, competitiveness, and geopolitical risk within critical raw material (CRM) supply chains, highlighting the gap between policy goals and practical implementation.

This research paper analyzes the resurgence of 'resources-for-security' deals in Africa, driven by the global demand for critical raw materials (CRMs) for green energy and military technology. It contrasts three primary models: Russia's use of private military companies (PMCs) for mining rights, the US's transactional 'peace-brokering' approach to secure supply chains, and China's 'infrastructure-for-resources' strategy via the Belt and Road Initiative. The paper argues that while these deals offer short-term security or development gains, they often reinforce dependency and authoritarianism, mirroring colonial and Cold War extractive patterns.

This research paper examines Morocco's strategic position as a supplier of green transition minerals (GTMs) and its bilateral relationships with China and the European Union. The authors argue that while Morocco benefits from the distinct strengths of both partners—China's industrial scale and speed versus the EU's regulatory standards and capacity building—its current engagement is fragmented. To overcome this, the paper proposes a five-step trilateral framework designed to transform geopolitical competition into pragmatic cooperation, aiming to establish Morocco as a regional hub for green value chains and industrial processing.

This policy brief summarizes a high-level roundtable hosted by Ember and the Clean Air Task Force during the 20th anniversary GLOBSEC Forum in Prague. The document argues that Europe must redefine energy security by transitioning from fossil fuel dependencies to clean firm power and electrification, while addressing new vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure and critical raw material supply chains.

This research paper examines Turkey's strategic efforts to secure critical raw materials (CRMs) in Africa to support its domestic industrial goals in defence, electric vehicles, and renewables. It analyzes Turkey's diverse engagement modalities—ranging from direct extraction to integrated industrial hubs and security-linked partnerships—and proposes a trilateral cooperation framework involving the European Union (EU) and African nations to align standards and enhance supply chain resilience.

This research paper examines the potential for trilateral cooperation between the European Union (EU), China, and African nations within critical raw material (CRM) supply chains. It argues that while the EU seeks to reduce its dependence on China, the deep integration of Chinese firms in midstream and downstream processing, combined with African demands for local value addition, makes a cooperative approach more viable than immediate decoupling. The author proposes a specific model for trilateral cooperation in the Democratic Republic of Congo's cobalt sector to balance the strategic interests of all three parties.

The Lobito Corridor is a strategic transport route designed to move critical raw materials (CRMs) from the Copperbelt of the DRC and Zambia to the Atlantic coast of Angola for export to the US and EU. While it promises economic transformation and local industrialization, the project faces significant geopolitical competition from China, sustainability risks related to human rights and artisanal mining, and financial uncertainty stemming from the US political landscape under the Trump presidency.

This research paper proposes a comprehensive trade and sustainable development agenda for the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) within the multilateral trading system. It outlines a five-part plan to leverage the World Trade Organization (WTO) for green industrialization and suggests adopting partnership models, such as those used by the EU, to reduce commodity dependence and enhance renewable energy production.

This policy brief from the Mistra Geopolitics research programme examines the role of mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) in managing the risks associated with critical raw material supply chains during the green transition, warning that current EU legislative trends may weaken these protections.

This policy brief examines the foreign and development relations between Africa, the European Union (EU), and Germany, arguing that these relationships are still characterized by 'coloniality'—the persistence of unequal power dynamics and colonial logic. The author analyzes how EU and German policies in security, raw material acquisition, and development aid often marginalize African agency, prioritize European economic interests, and employ 'saviourism' through top-down interventions. The document provides specific case studies from Mauritania, Mali, South Sudan, Namibia, and Zambia to illustrate these dynamics and concludes with recommendations for genuine decolonization, including respecting African demands on trade and resource beneficiation.

The 'SEI strategy 2025–29' outlines the Stockholm Environment Institute's strategic framework to address global environmental and sustainable development challenges. The strategy focuses on three primary impact areas—climate transitions, nature and resources, and health and wellbeing—while introducing 'accelerating implementation' as a new strategic outcome to move from policy goals to on-the-ground action.

This policy brief analyzes the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and the UK Critical Minerals Strategy (CMS), evaluating their potential to support African industrialization. It argues that both frameworks are primarily driven by domestic energy and economic priorities, focusing on reducing dependency on China and mitigating geopolitical risks. The author contends that current capital allocations and the emphasis on domestic processing capacity are insufficient to attract private investment for African value addition and beneficiation, suggesting a need for a shift in political and commercial relations to align with African industrialization goals.

This research paper analyzes the European Union's strategic partnerships with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to diversify critical raw material (CRM) supply chains and reduce dependence on China. It examines the geopolitical tensions between Western security agendas and the industrialization goals of the producing nations, while highlighting significant governance risks and the lack of comprehensive national CRM policies in the DRC and Zambia.

The Lobito Corridor is a 1,300 km railway project in Angola designed to transport critical raw materials (CRMs) and electric vehicle (EV) battery value chain products from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to the EU and US. While supported by various MoUs and a consortium including Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis, the project faces significant competition from established Chinese supply chains and alternative transport routes to the Indian Ocean.

An open letter from a coalition of movements, Indigenous Peoples, and civil society organizations urging the European Union to implement strict human rights, environmental, and governance safeguards within the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) to prevent the exploitation of resource-rich countries in the Global South during the energy transition.

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) analyzes the implications of the European Green Deal (EGD) for the African private sector. It explores how Africa's abundance of critical minerals and renewable energy potential—particularly for green hydrogen—positions the continent as a strategic partner for the EU's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The document identifies financial, technological, and capacity-building opportunities for African companies, while warning against the risk of Africa remaining a mere resource supplier in an unequal partnership.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) analyzes the strategic intersection between the European Green Deal (EGD) and the African private sector. It explores how the EU's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 creates opportunities for African companies in green hydrogen, critical minerals, and sustainable technology, while warning of potential 'lock-in' effects where Africa remains a mere resource supplier.

This briefing examines the implications of the European Green Deal (EGD) for African nations, identifying opportunities and risks across seven key sectors. It provides strategic recommendations for both EU and African policymakers to ensure the transition supports Africa's development priorities and moves the EU-Africa relationship toward a mutually beneficial partnership.