Beyond Legislation — Can Europe Rebuild Its Mining Industry?

Europe has created a stronger policy framework for critical raw materials, but the gap between political ambition and industrial delivery remains wide. The Critical Raw Materials Act promised faster permitting and stronger domestic supply chains, yet many projects still struggle to advance. The central questions are no longer only about geology or legal frameworks, but about competitiveness, public legitimacy, financing and the ability to move projects from concept to production. How much can legislation really change? Where are the main bottlenecks now — permitting, energy costs, market conditions, public resistance, or lack of investor confidence? And what does “rebuilding an industry” mean in a European context where mining remains strategically necessary but politically contested? This opening session sets the intellectual and commercial frame for the Forum by examining whether Europe is entering a new phase of mining development or still operating mainly at the level of policy aspiration.