EU Seeks Alternatives to China’s Rare Earths

The plan includes recycling materials within the European Union, joint purchasing, stockpiling, and investing in projects both within and outside the bloc.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a news conference as part of the European Council meeting to discuss Ukraine, European defense, recent developments in the Middle East, competitiveness, housing, and migration, in Brussels on Oct. 23, 2025. Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images

The European Union is seeking to wean itself off rare earths from China, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

In a speech at the Berlin Global Dialogue on Oct. 25, Von der Leyen said the EU is “working on a new RESource EU plan along the lines of the REPower Initiative,” which Brussels launched in 2022 to phase out Russian energy.