This Week in Mining — Brussels (#15, 2026)
EU-US sign MoU on critical minerals; ITRE issues draft report on energy infrastructure; ITRE opinion on Temporary Decarbonisation Fund.
April 19, 2026 to April 25, 2026
EU-US sign MoU on critical minerals; ITRE issues draft report on energy infrastructure; ITRE opinion on Temporary Decarbonisation Fund.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
European Commission
EU and US formalise critical minerals partnership with new MoU
On 23 April 2026, the European Union and the United States formalised a strategic partnership on critical minerals by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and agreeing on an EU-US Critical Minerals Action Plan. Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the MoU in Washington DC. The partnership encompasses cooperation across the critical minerals value chain, including exploration, extraction, processing, refining, recycling, and recovery, as well as joint work on innovation, investment, and supply/demand-side measures. Under the Action Plan, both sides intend to examine trade policy instruments such as border-adjusted price floors and offtake agreements and to develop common standards for mining and recycling. The MoU follows previous commitments from the Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting of 4 February 2026, where Japan also participated.
EP Committee Work
ITRE draft report on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure
On 24 April 2026, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) published a draft report (ITRE_PR(2026)785275, rapporteur: Tsvetelina Penkova) regarding the proposal for a regulation on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure. The report addresses amendments to Regulations (EU) 2019/942, 2019/943, 2024/1789, and repeals Regulation (EU) 2022/869. The document outlines new priorities and criteria for the development and financing of energy infrastructure projects across the EU.
ITRE draft opinion on the proposal for regulation establishing the Temporary Decarbonisation Fund
On 21 April 2026, ITRE adopted a draft opinion (ITRE_PA(2026)786735, rapporteur: Massimiliano Salini) for the Committee on Environment, Climate and Food Safety regarding the Commission proposal COM(2025)0990, 2025/0418(COD) establishing the Temporary Decarbonisation Fund. The opinion examines transitional financial support mechanisms for energy-intensive sectors such as aluminium, fertilizers, iron, and steel, in the context of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the phase-out of free EU ETS allowances. It details the fund's objectives, target sectors, financial structure, and proposes amendments related to export competitiveness and the risk of carbon leakage.
What We're Reading This Week
- 8417/26 1 RELEX.1 Council of the European Union Delegations will find in the annex the Council Conclusions on EU Energy and Cli: EU Council adopts new conclusions outlining strategies for energy policy and climate action among member states.
- Ecocide is a crime against humanity: International legal experts advance efforts to classify large-scale environmental destruction as an offense prosecutable under international law.
- China's rare-earth magnet exports fall 1.6% in March: China's rare-earth magnet exports declined in March, reflecting potential shifts in global demand or supply chain challenges.
- French trade minister says France must avoid becoming 'hostage' on critical minerals: France seeks to secure independent access
