90%命脉被卡，欧盟慌了，紧急砸钱30亿，这回算是把自己玩进去了

Core Points - The European Commission has announced an emergency fund of €30 billion to address its dependency on critical raw materials, highlighting a significant strategic failure over the past thirty years [1][3] - The funding is intended to kickstart the Critical Raw Materials Act, which aims for the EU to source at least 10% of its strategic raw materials domestically, process 40% within the EU, and recycle 25% by 2030 [5][3] - A key stipulation is that dependency on any single third country cannot exceed 65%, implicitly targeting China as the main concern [5][3] Historical Context - The article traces the roots of Europe's current predicament back to the 1980s when European elites outsourced mining and processing to developing countries, believing that developed nations should focus on R&D and finance [9][11] - This outsourcing led to a significant decline in mining capabilities and expertise in Europe, resulting in a talent gap in geological sciences [13][16] - The 2010 spike in rare earth prices due to China's export restrictions prompted a brief reconsideration of mining in Europe, but interest waned as prices fell [15][16] Current Challenges - The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has exposed Europe's vulnerability in critical raw materials, leading to a realization of their over-reliance on imports [16][23] - Even if new mining projects are initiated, such as the lithium mine in Serbia, they face significant opposition and delays, complicating the recovery of the industry [18][20] - Europe's current dependency on China for rare earths is alarming, with two-thirds of Germany's imports coming from China, and over 90% when including finished products [23][26] Economic Implications - Rebuilding the rare earth supply chain in Europe is projected to take at least 10 to 15 years, with immediate supply disruptions potentially crippling industries [26][30] - The high costs associated with domestic mining and processing, coupled with bureaucratic inefficiencies, hinder investment confidence in new projects [28][30] - The recycling efforts in Europe are hampered by high costs compared to importing new materials, leading to a paradox where valuable electronic waste is exported rather than recycled [32][34] Political and Financial Landscape - The article emphasizes that breaking the current deadlock will require substantial investment, potentially in the range of hundreds of billions of euros, which is unlikely given the current political climate and fiscal constraints in Europe [36] - The €30 billion fund is viewed as insufficient to make a meaningful impact, reflecting the fragmented approach among EU member states and various governmental departments [36]