The European Commission presented a revised list of Critical Raw Materials. The 2014 list includes 13 of the 14 materials identified in the previous list of 2011 with only tantalum moving out of the list due to a lower supply risk.

Six new materials appear on the list of 20 raw materials which are now considered critical by the European Commission are

1. Borates

2. Chromium

3. Coking coal

4. Magnesite

5. Phosphate rock

6. Silicon metal

The other 14 raw materials are

1. Antimony

2. Beryllium

3. Cobalt

4. Fluorspar

5. Gallium

6. Germanium

7. Indium

8. Magnesium

9. Natural graphite

10. Niobium

11. Platinum group metals

12. Heavy rare earths

13. Light rare earths

14. Tungsten

Mr Antonio Tajani European Commission VP, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship said that "The Commission, in cooperation with Member States and stakeholders, is taking a wide range of measures to implement this strategy. These include a reinforced Raw Materials Diplomacy and trade policy, fostering sustainable supply within the EU and boosting resource efficiency and promoting recycling. The EU list we presented today aims at contributing to the implementation of the EU industrial policy and to ensure that European industrial competitiveness is strengthened."

The list should help to incentivise the European production of critical raw materials and facilitate the launching of new mining and recycling activities. Furthermore, the list is being used by the Commission to help prioritize needs and actions. For example, it serves as a supporting element when negotiating trade agreements, challenging trade distortion measures or promoting research and innovation. It can also serve as a source of information for companies who would wish to evaluate the criticality of their own supply of raw materials.