Europe’s Raw Material Future Lies Next Door, If It Does Not Repeat the Past

Europe often discusses critical raw materials as if geographical distance were the central problem. Lithium comes from South America or Australia. Cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rare earths are processed in China. The obvious response appears to be finding alternative suppliers elsewhere in the world. But part of Europe's raw-material future may be much closer.

Ukraine and the Western Balkans hold deposits of many materials required for batteries, power grids, wind turbines, electric vehicles, semiconductors and defense equipment. Ukraine has graphite, titanium, manganese, lithium and other mineral potential. Serbia has copper, borates and lithium. Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Albania hold combinations of bauxite, aluminium, cobalt, copper, nickel, antimony and manganese.