With regards to the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), Section 2 "Strategic Projects", Article 7 "Application and recognition", project promoters are required to classify their raw materials projects according to the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) and provide relevant evidence when applying for recognition as Strategic Projects.
For more detailed information on Strategic Projects, please visit the official webpage of Strategic Projects under the CRMA.
UNFC classification, which applies to extraction, processing, recycling, and substitution of raw materials projects, highlights sustainability measures, technical maturity, and confidence in product estimates. According to CRMA, while a UNFC classification of Strategic Projects is mandatory, the given class is not a decisive factor for project recognition. UNFC aids in assessing and monitoring the environmental, social, and economic viability and progress of the project, alongside other CRMA criteria.
Project promoters must provide detailed information on the project's strategic raw material potential, technological feasibility, economic viability, and environmental and social sustainability. This classification is reviewed by the European Commission with the assistance of technical experts, including UNFC experts.
The UNFC classification process involves two steps: initial classification by project promoters, taking less than a day, followed by a review by the European Commission and UNFC experts. The outcome is communicated back to project promoters. It is important to note that the UNFC classification itself does not significantly influence the recognition process but provides insights into the project's strengths, gaps, and areas for improvement, thereby guiding effective policy interventions.
UNFC plays a role in monitoring the progress of Strategic Projects, facilitating continuous assessment, and enabling timely interventions to address challenges and optimize outcomes, aligning with the CRMA's goal of achieving production by 2030.
Co-organized by UNECE and EGRM, with the support of DG GROW, two training sessions were held to equip project promoters with the skills and knowledge required for the successful application of UNFC to Strategic Projects in the context of CRMA. These sessions, conducted on 6 June and 2 July 2024, were designed to facilitate the recognition of Strategic Projects under the CRMA by providing practical insights and detailed guidance on UNFC.
The primary focus of these trainings was to enable project promoters to proficiently apply UNFC to a variety of projects, including extraction, processing, recycling, and substitution for both primary and secondary strategic raw materials. The application of UNFC to Strategic Projects highlights the environmental, socio-economic viability, and technical maturity of these projects, as well as the confidence level in product estimates. The training prepared project promoters to classify their project proposals using UNFC through the Strategic Projects Form for the CRMA.
Trainings’ Follow-up
Feedback Form:
A feedback form is available on this link. This form intends to gather input and inquiries, to help us improve future trainings
Training Recording:
Re-watch the training here (Link to Training)
Training Slides:
Presentation slides used during the training, including the exercises (Link to Slides)
Detailed Guidance on the application of UNFC:
A detailed guidance document has been prepared as post-training material, on the application of UNFC to Strategic Projects in accordance with CRMA (Link to Document)
Recommended material:
- UNFC (2019) (Link)
- Minerals Specifications (Link)
- Anthropogenic Resources Specifications (Link)
- UNFC Guidance Europe (Link)
- CRIRSCO Template to UNFC Bridging Document (Link)
- CRMA Strategic Projects main webpage (Link)
- Strategic Projects INFODAY (Link)
EGRM Secretariat Helpdesk
A UNECE helpdesk is established to guide project promoters towards the relevant material to better comprehend the application of UNFC to their projects. It is to be noted that the support provided does not extend to advising, reviewing, or consulting on the classification of the project in UNFC.
Slavko Solar / [email protected]
Charlotte Griffiths / [email protected]
Ghadi Sabra / [email protected]