The European Commission has developed a new strategy that envisions the creation of reserves of critical minerals and materials to strengthen the EU’s resilience to future conflicts and climate change.
The Financial Times reported on this.
“The EU is facing an increasingly complex and deteriorating risk landscape, characterized by rising geopolitical tensions – including conflicts – intensifying impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, as well as hybrid and cyber threats,” states the draft document from the European Commission outlining the stockpiling strategy, which the publication has reviewed.
Therefore, the European Commission is urging member states to coordinate the stockpiling of essential resources such as food, medicines, and even nuclear fuel. At the same time, the Commission plans to accelerate efforts to establish EU-wide reserves of critical components – including materials for repairing electrical and optical cables, as well as rare earth metals and permanent magnets – which are vital for the functioning of energy and defense systems.
Several incidents of sabotage targeting undersea communication cables and gas pipelines in recent years have raised concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
According to the document, the growing risk is further driven by “increased activity from hacktivists, cybercriminals, and state-sponsored groups.”
In March 2025, the EU had already advised households to stock up on essential food and supplies to be able to survive for at least 72 hours in the event of a crisis.
However, the Commission stated that there is currently limited shared understanding of which goods are essential for crisis preparedness. Therefore, it will begin regularly compiling updated lists of necessary stockpiles, tailored to each region and type of crisis.
Member states should also do more to encourage the private sector to contribute to stockpiling efforts — for example, through tax incentives, the document says.
It was recently reported that the European Union is planning a large-scale upgrade of ports and transport infrastructure as part of its preparations for a potential war with Russia.
The plan involves investments of up to €75 billion, making it the largest project of its kind since World War II. While the preparations are defense-oriented, the EU emphasizes that the project will also provide peacetime benefits — modernizing roads, railways, digital infrastructure, and communication systems.
Modernization work has already started at ports in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Romania, which are being adapted to enable the rapid reception of NATO troops and equipment in the event of a crisis.
