The EU and Australia could ink a strategic partnership on the raw materials they need for their green and digital transitions as early as next month.
“The Commission has been negotiating the [memorandum of understanding] that will establish a strategic partnership on sustainable critical and strategic minerals between the EU and Australia. We tentatively expect to be in the position of signing this partnership in May,” Commission spokesperson Johanna Bernsel told POLITICO on Monday.
Both sides have basically agreed to the text, which is “very close” to finalization, said one official close to the discussions who was granted anonymity because the talks are confidential. They estimated the deal should be announced in the coming weeks or months.
Brussels has been racing in recent years to seal strategic partnerships through which it can diversify its supply of so-called critical raw materials — such as the lithium used in electric vehicle batteries — away from China.
