The European Commission has today rejected the request by Associação Unidos em Defesa de Covas do Barroso (UDCB), MiningWatch Portugal and ClientEarth to remove the Mina do Barroso lithium mining project from its list of ‘strategic projects’ - a designation linked to its drive to expand critical mineral extraction under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).

NGOs and community groups had challenged the Commission’s decision to label the mining project as ‘strategic’ – arguing that it ignores mounting evidence that the mine’s design poses grave environmental and safety risks. But instead of addressing the serious environmental and social concerns raised, the Commission largely dismissed the substantive environmental and social criticisms raised by communities.

It argued that major issues – from water scarcity to biodiversity and tailings safety – fall under Portuguese responsibility, stressing that its role under the Critical Raw Materials Act does not include verifying full compliance with EU environmental law. Despite this limited scrutiny, it still deemed the Barroso mine “sustainable,” creating a legal presumption that the project serves the public interest and protects public health and safety, even as major risks remain unaddressed.

The Commission also refused to examine the social and human rights impacts of the project even if they could result from potential environmental damage.

ClientEarth lawyer Ilze Tralmaka, said:

“The Commission is wrong to use the Critical Raw Materials Act to fast-track projects that the science shows are unsafe, environmentally destructive and unnecessary. The green transition cannot come at the cost of geographical and community safety.

At the same time, expert evidence suggests that we should reduce lithium demand as far as possible and, investing in recycling, and thereby reducing the need for new mining.”

Independent studies have found that the project’s mining waste storage and water management plans could lead to contamination and catastrophic failure in heavy rainfall, threatening farming, local livelihoods and even the famous the Port Wine region of the Douro river. Moreover, a recent study by expert Douw Steyn has identified serious flaws in the air-quality assessment of the Barroso Mine project.

MiningWatch Portugal Nik Völker said:

“This decision shows that the EU is willing to trade rural lives and irreplaceable landscapes for a political headline. Calling something a ‘strategic project’ doesn’t make it safe or sustainable. The truth is, the Mina do Barroso mine offers minimal benefits and enormous risks: a textbook example of how not to do a green transition.”

Local residents say the project threatens their land, water and way of life.

UDCB Aida Fernandes said:

“We are told this mine is for the good of Europe, but the people who will pay the price live here. Our springs, our soil and our farms are what keeps this community alive. Once they are gone, they are gone forever. Europe cannot build a green future by destroying the places that are already living sustainably. Covas do Barroso is not a sacrifice zone, it’s our home.”

While supply security is a legitimate goal, the NGOs warn that the CRMA and the status of a strategic project are being misused to secure access to financing and faster permitting of mining projects with major operational questions and without any real scrutiny over the environmental and social impacts these projects will have.