British News Agency

Von der Leyen emphasized that in an era of intensifying global competition, Europe must use its geoeconomic power to protect its strategic sectors.

“This is the era of geoeconomics. We must use our geoeconomic weight to safeguard our strategic sectors and supply chains. This is a matter of national security,” she said.

Von der Leyen noted that maintaining access to critical raw materials is vital for Europe to remain strong in the new geopolitical environment: “Critical raw materials are the lifeblood of our industry. Through RESourceEU, we will ensure access to them.”

The new plan aims to increase domestic production, joint purchasing, stockpiling, recycling, and expanding cooperation. Von der Leyen concluded, “We are taking decisive steps.”