The concept of Southeast Europe (SEE) as Europe’s industrial “second layer” cannot remain a theoretical construct or a policy slogan. To be meaningful, it must evolve into a clear execution architecture — something governments can design policy around, investors can finance with confidence, and industrial companies can integrate into their operational models. For SEE, the […]
Europe’s industrial transformation is no longer defined by the opening of new mines or geological ambition. The decisive struggle takes place further down the value chain — in processing, refining and chemical conversion. Whoever controls these stages controls value, security of supply and long-term competitiveness. Europe’s future depends on ensuring that strategically critical raw materials
Mining is not just an industry—it is a political, economic, and social force. Unlike most sectors, it physically transforms landscapes, shapes local economies, and impacts communities over decades. For democratic societies, this creates a unique responsibility: mining decisions must be both technically sound and democratically legitimate. Transparent, science-based communication is not a marketing exercise; it
Mining Communication as a Pillar of Europe’s Industrial Sovereignty Read Post »
There is a misconception that continues to circulate in parts of the mining world, including South-East Europe and Serbia. It is the belief that the presence of resources automatically guarantees capital. If the deposit is large enough, if the commodity is fashionable enough, if the geology can sustain an impressive presentation, then financing will naturally
Europe funds systems, not stories: What investors truly finance in SEE and Serbia Read Post »
The European Union’s progressive expansion of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is redefining industrial location strategy. No longer a limited carbon levy on select commodities, CBAM now functions as a system-level filter that integrates electricity systems, mining inputs, and manufacturing into a single regulatory and economic framework. As CBAM moves downstream, it increasingly influences
The EU’s expansion of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) into downstream manufactured goods represents a structural shift for the mining and metals sector. What began as a carbon levy on a narrow set of commodities is evolving into a value-chain instrument that links extraction, processing, and fabrication into a single carbon-accounted continuum. For mining-linked
The latest CBAM draft confirms what industrial and power-market analysts have long suspected: electricity is no longer a peripheral factor in carbon pricing—it is becoming the structural backbone through which CBAM transmits cost, risk, and compliance across manufacturing value chains. The EU’s expansion of CBAM to finished and semi-finished steel and aluminium products formalizes a
As Europe accelerates its metals and materials transition, demand for specialised engineering—covering process modelling, plant automation, electrical systems, metallurgical simulation, and commissioning support—has intensified. Companies seeking to develop smelters, hydrometallurgical facilities, battery-material plants, and advanced recycling operations naturally compare engineering hubs across Central and South-Eastern Europe. Among these, Serbia stands out for its unique alignment
Europe is entering a decisive period in transforming its metals, minerals, and materials ecosystem. For decades, the continent relied on global markets for ores, concentrates, and refined materials, enabling high-value manufacturing while outsourcing mining and midstream processing. Stable supply chains and predictable geopolitics ensured steady access to copper, nickel, lithium, aluminium, specialty steels, and rare-earth
Europe Rebuilds Its Industrial Backbone by Reinventing Metals and Materials Processing Read Post »
Europe’s drive for strategic autonomy in raw materials and electrification metals is entering a decisive phase. The continent’s ability to compete in processing—rather than just extraction or downstream manufacturing—will be tested by volatile electricity markets, reconfigured logistics routes, geopolitical fragmentation and intense global competition for midstream value creation. ReSourceEU has articulated Europe’s ambition, but the
