Green Initiative and Mineral Governance: The Interplay of EU Policies and Romania’s Regulatory Framework

Abstract

The global shift toward green technologies presents a dual challenge: surging demand for clean technology products and an increasing reliance on critical raw materials (CRMs). While the existing literature has largely concentrated on economic, geopolitical, or general governance perspectives, scant attention has been devoted to the legal, institutional, and justice dimensions of mineral resource governance. This article addresses this gap by examining the European Union’s evolving policy framework—particularly the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act—and its implications for Romania’s national regulatory landscape. Employing a mixed-method approach that combines a systematic literature review and a SWOT analysis, this study assesses Romania’s capacity to align its mineral governance with the EU’s objectives for supply security, environmental sustainability, and strategic autonomy. Its findings underscore the urgent need for Romania to streamline its regulatory frameworks, enhance institutional coherence, clarify property rights, and reform licensing and fiscal regimes to attract investment and ensure legal predictability. Advancing green mining technologies, recycling initiatives, and sustainability-focused innovations is also vital for aligning national practices with the EU’s environmental and economic goals. By foregrounding issues of transparency, good governance, and procedural justice, this article offers new insights into how national and supranational governance structures intersect in the context of the green transition. This study provides valuable recommendations for policymakers, industry actors, and scholars seeking to strengthen Romania’s position within the EU’s broader resource security and sustainable development strategies.