Today, the EU and Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) launching a strategic partnership on critical raw materials (CRMs). This important agreement marks a significant step towards securing a diversified and sustainable supply of CRMs for the green and digital transitions both in the EU and Uzbekistan.

The MoU signed by European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov underscored the partners' shared commitment to enhance cooperation in the field of CRMs.

This strategic partnership focuses on the following areas of cooperation:

• i.       Integration of sustainable CRM value chains, including via networking, selection of project proposals, joint development of projects, promotion and facilitation of trade, and investment linkages along the whole value chain;
• ii.       Increasing the resilience of CRM supply chains and establishing a dialogue to enhance the transparency of measures related to investments, operations and exports;
• iii.      Mobilisation of funding for projects resulting from the Partnership, as well as for the development of infrastructure required for the development of CRM value chains such as, but not limited to, the development of clean energy supply;
• iv.     Cooperation to achieve sustainable and responsible production and sourcing of CRMs;
• v.       Cooperation on research and innovation, including the sharing of knowledge and technologies related to sustainable exploration, extraction, processing and recycling of CRMs;
• vi.      Cooperation on building of capacity to enforce relevant rules, and on developing training and skills.

Next steps

Following the signature of the MoU, the EU and Uzbekistan will jointly work on the establishment of an operational roadmap with concrete implementation actions.

Background

In line with the objectives outlined in the 2020 Action Plan for Critical Raw Materials and the EU's external energy engagement strategy, this partnership highlights the EU's commitment to establishing mutually beneficial CRM value chain partnerships with resource-rich countries.

Uzbekistan has the second-largest reserves of CRMs in Central Asia, boasting significant deposits of various minerals such as copper, molybdenum, and gold. The country's mining strategy aligns with its ambitions to increase the processing of CRMs for both domestic and international industries, particularly in automotive and consumer electronics.

The partnership is in line with the Global Gateway strategy, the EU's key initiative for investments for sustainable and high-quality projects around the world, taking into account the needs of partner countries and ensuring lasting benefits for local communities, and through which the EU will mobilise up to €300 billion in investments until 2027.

Currently the EU has established raw materials partnerships with Canada (2021), Ukraine (2021), Kazakhstan (2022), Namibia (2022), Chile (2023), Argentina (2023), Zambia (2023), Democratic Republic of Congo (2023) and the Autonomous Territory of Greenland (2023).