Preventing the EU’s Imminent Self-Destruction of Its Cobalt Industry

The European cobalt industry warned the European Commission in a letter that contrary to Europe's ambition to strengthen its independence in critical raw materials - especially cobalt - the Commission’s own proposal on Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL) risks doing the opposite.

The draft revision introduces an OEL for cobalt of 10 μg/m³, a value far below global norms and unsupported by workplace health data. Industry strongly supports a protective OEL, but evidence shows that the existing 20 μg/m³ level - already used in nine EU Member States -effectively protects workers.

With cobalt demand in Europe expected to rise 350% by 2050, the proposal would move the EU further from - not closer to - strategic autonomy. Defence suppliers, including Rheinmetall, have warned that the measure would weaken Europe’s security and industrial readiness.

The cobalt Industry urged the Commission to adopt a 20 μg/m³ limit without further reduction - a stringent but achievable level that protects workers while preserving Europe’s cobalt value chain.

As the Council prepares to conclude discussions in December, there is still time to correct course and ensure Europe’s raw materials, industrial competitiveness, and strategic resilience are not put at risk.