​​The Action Plan for Critical Raw Materials presented by the European Commission in September 2020 is subject to an opinion which will be discussed by local and regional leaders during the plenary of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 18 March. Many European key industries, especially those involved in future-oriented technologies, are highly dependent on critical raw materials, a majority of which are imported from non-EU countries.

Charles Michel, President of the European Council, will on 17 March make his first address to the European Committee of the Regions, starting a plenary session that will bring into focus local and regional perspectives on policies to end the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote a green and inclusive economic recovery. Four European Commissioners will lead debate about COVID-19 vaccinations and building resilience in EU's regions, the economic recovery package, the Green Deal, and integration of migrants. An award to honour the memory of Paweł Adamowicz, late mayor of Gdańsk, will be launched and the winners of the European Entrepreneurial Region Award will be announced.

In September 2020, the European Commission published anAction Plan on Critical Raw Materials which is subject to an opinion drafted byIsolde Ries . The Commission classifies raw materials as critical if they are of crucial economic importance but cannot be reliably and sustainably extracted within the EU. The EU is particularly dependent on imports from other countries when it comes to raw materials that are important for the European digitalisation and Green Deal and for the development of future-oriented technologies. The opinion on the Action Plan on critical raw materials highlights that in order to safeguard the European supply of critical raw materials local and regional authorities play a crucial role when it comes to increasing the extraction of raw materials within the EU and improving the recycling capacity of critical raw materials.

Cuireadh torthaí an chomhairliúcháin chomhpháirtigh i láthair le linn chruinniú an Choimisiúin um Beartas Eacnamaíoch (ECON) de Choiste Eorpach na Réigiún (CnaR). Ghlac comhaltaí ECON freisin, d’aon toil, an dréacht-tuairim maidir leis an bPlean Gníomhaíochta maidir le hAmhábhair Chriticiúla, a dhréachtaigh Isolde Ries (DE/PSE), an Chéad Leas-Uachtarán ar Pharlaimint Réigiúnach na Sárlainne.