The European Commission, in a reply to Lusa, says the mine at Covas do Barroso, in Boticas, was assessed by independent experts, but that strategic projects must meet public acceptance and can be reassessed at any stage, under the Critical Raw Materials Regulation. Execution stays under Portuguese law, including environment and consultation. It is a position. It is not a withdrawal of strategic status, and it is not the closing of the project.

Público, with Lusa, writes that MEP Catarina Martins (BE) had met last week the director-general in charge of strategic projects. On the way out, Martins said Brussels had not known of the local contestation and accused the government of hiding it to win the status. The Commission spokesman did not answer directly whether it knew of the protests. He stressed the expert assessment and a favourable opinion from the Critical Raw Materials Board, with Parliament as observer.

The Commission “supports strategic projects, easing licensing and access to finance,” but execution depends on the member state’s rules. Projects must also show involvement of the local population. The right to check, at any stage, whether a project still meets the criteria is in the regulation. A right. Not today’s decision to take Barroso off the list.

On 9 October opponents blocked Savannah’s work on land under administrative easement. The company suspended, “as a precaution, in coordination with the authorities.” The GNR identified 27 people. APA had issued in 2023 a favourable, conditioned environmental-impact statement. Savannah wants construction in 2027 and first production in 2028. The company’s calendar. Not a withdrawal from Brussels.

In May, Table.Briefings wrote that three Portuguese lithium projects had reached the strategic list after a negative technical assessment. In July the European Ombudsman spoke of maladministration over refused environmental documents. Those are older files. Wednesday’s reply does not retry them.

Source consulted: Public acceptance is a criterion for the Barroso mine, the European Commission warns — Público.

Image: the Romanesque church of Santa Maria in Covas do Barroso, Boticas, 10 April 2016, GFreihalter, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. The village, not the mine pit.

Sources consulted: The European Commission’s reply, reported by Lusa — Público.