ISSUE: 1/2026
- Volume 30
- Number 1
- 2026
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Studia Europejskie –
Studies in European Affairs
ISSN: 1428-149X
e-ISSN: 2719-3780
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Articles published in the journal are under a Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial – No Derivatives 4.0 International License
Publication co-financed by Ministry of Science and Higher Education pursuant to the Regulation of the Minister of Education and Science of 3 August 2021 (Journal of Laws of 2021, item 1514) on the “Development of Scientific Journals” programme.
Publikacja dofinansowana przez Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego na podstawie rozporządzenia Ministra Edukacji i Nauki z 3 sierpnia 2021 r. (Dz. U. z 2021 r. poz. 1514) w sprawie programu „Rozwój czasopism naukowych”.
Publication co-financed by the University of Warsaw within the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” programme.
Czasopismo otrzymało dofinasowanie w ramach Programu „Inicjatywa Doskonałości – Uczelnia Badawcza”.
A Silver Lining or Wishful Thinking? Central Asia in the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Strategy
Abstract
This paper explores the potential of Central Asia as a critical supplier of critical raw materials (CRMs) for the European Union (EU) in the context of the Russia–Ukraine conflict, examining the EU’s neighbourhood policies and energy security from a geopolitical perspective. Following the EU’s decision to de-risk from China, reducing dependency on Chinese CRMs has become a key policy priority. To achieve this objective, the EU has sought to strategically engage with neighbouring countries, including those in Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which possess significant CRM reserves. Despite the EU’s increasingly proactive and accelerated efforts, fully unlocking the region’s potential remains highly challenging. In addition to substantial investments in infrastructure and the transfer of technological expertise, the EU must carefully balance the interests of Central Asian countries, the world’s major powers, and its own Member States.
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DOI: 10.33067/SE.1.2026.4
Language: English
Pages: 55-73
How to Cite:
Harvard
Hou, P. (2026) "A Silver Lining or Wishful Thinking? Central Asia in the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Strategy". Studia Europejskie – Studies in European Affairs, 1/2026, pp. 55-73. DOI: 10.33067/SE.1.2026.4