These materials are crucial for companies designing, manufacturing, maintaining, and refurbishing rail transport systems (rolling stock, infrastructure, signalling) and related equipment in an industry considered strategic not only for industrial and technological leadership, but also for the security of Europe’s critical infrastructure and our military mobility.
Against this background, UNIFE, the European Rail Supply Industry Association, prepared a position paper on Critical Raw Materials. In this document, UNIFE provides more information on the use of those critical raw materials and the challenges related to supply constraints. This position paper also reflects on upcoming industry obligations under the European Critical Raw Materials Act (ECRMA) and on the future European Critical Raw Materials Centre (ECRMC). UNIFE supports treating the rail supply industry as a strategic sector and considering its needs in the ECRMA and the upcoming ECRMC. UNIFE lists suggestions to improve the effectiveness of the future ECRMC. (....)