This event will explore the challenges of recycling metals and critical raw materials (CRM) for the stakeholders of the round table. Discussions will be centered around the recycling industry's contribution to European competitiveness and strategic autonomy. The goal is to invite sectors to share their common issues or priorities related to recycling.
- circular economy | clean technology | environmental impact | management of resources | sustainable economic growth strategy | waste recycling | waste management
- Wednesday 25 June 2025, 17:00 - 18:00 (CEST)
- Brussels, Belgium
Practical information
- When
- Wednesday 25 June 2025, 17:00 - 18:00 (CEST)
- Where
- Silversquare Europe35 square Meeus,, Brussels, Belgium
- Languages
- English
- Part of
- Website
- Event website
Description
350 million electric vehicles are expected to be on the roads globally between now and 2030. This acceleration, prompted by the European ban on the sale of fossil fuel vehicles from 2035, brings with it significant challenges around the supply of raw materials required to power them. As such, battery recycling represents a strategic challenge for the European Union, both environmentally and economically. It is also an opportunity for the EU to secure its own supply chains.
Promoting a European framework for the management of waste batteries is therefore crucial to conserving natural resources, limiting ecological impacts, and ensuring sustainable industrial autonomy.
Meanwhile, this event will provide an opportunity to discuss the European Commission's proposal in the Steel and Metals Action Plan to explore the possible introduction of export restrictions, including potential export duties or taxes on recycled metals. It is essential that measures are put in place to stimulate the use of recycled materials in Europe rather than considering new measures that could harm open trade in recycled metals.
SUEZ fully supports the European Commission's initiatives aimed at building a sustainable and competitive battery value chain in the EU, while addressing the social, environmental, and health impacts involved (e.g. the Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation, the Critical Raw Materials Act, and the Clean Industrial Deal). To advance this agenda and reinforce the safe recycling of metals and batteries within the EU, several key points must still be addressed:
Europe's metal recycling industries need a circular economy market with strong domestic demand, before considering any export restrictions.
Encourage battery recycling within the EU
Prevent the export of waste batteries outside the EU
Establish recycling rate targets by type of critical raw material
The announcement in the action plan for the automotive sector, which classifies black mass as hazardous waste, is a very positive first step and opens the door to increased opportunities for recycling critical raw materials on European soil.
This event will gather around twenty persons both from the European political scene, key industries, think tanks and academics for rich discussions and debates in a workshop-like spirit. The round table will be moderated by Alexandra de Schonen, Head of the EU Public Affairs for SUEZ.
The conversation will begin with short statements from our key speakers, including Luis Planas Herrera, Member of Cabinet of Jessika Roswall, European Commission. Following these initial presentations, the moderator will invite the participants to delve deeper into the topics at hand, launching the roundtable discussion.