At MINEX – Mining and Exploration Forum – Mining and Exploration Forum Europe 2025 in Lisbon, discussions once again underlined how Europe’s ambitions in mining and processing must translate into tangible actions. ANZAPLAN’s Christian Graf shared his reflections on the most pressing themes shaping the continent’s raw materials landscape:
1️⃣ Regulation is key in Europe — but let’s not overcomplicate things.
Clear and consistent regulation remains essential to accelerate investment and project realization. Excessive complexity often slows down innovation instead of enabling it.
2️⃣ Share responsibility and risk. (Han ilhan )
In partnerships, risk and responsibility should not rest on one side alone. Building sustainable value chains requires balanced commitment from all stakeholders.
3️⃣ The mining industry is an enabling industry.
Mining provides the foundation for Europe’s energy transition, defense capabilities, and high-tech industries. Without it, strategic autonomy remains out of reach.
4️⃣ Talking doesn’t find resources (Stefan Müller ) or develop processes — money and action do.
Europe’s challenge is not a poltical intentions but a lack of decisive actions. Turning words into action requires capital, confidence, and leadership.
5️⃣ Europe faces a growing gap between expectations and reality.
While targets are ambitious, tangible results are rare. Bridging this gap demands pragmatic solutions and effective execution.
🌍 It was inspiring to connect with many experts dedicated to advancing Europe’s raw materials resilience and processing excellence.
