Raw materials law and policy: EU Commission awards Marc Bungenberg another Jean Monnet Chair

Professor Marc Bungenberg, Director of the Europa-Institut at Saarland University, has been awarded the Jean Monnet Chair for Safe and Sustainable Raw Materials Law and Policy. The aim of the chair is to develop ideas and concepts on the urgent issues of the sustainable supply of raw materials and to impart knowledge of European and international raw materials law. The European Commission awards Jean Monnet Chairs in recognition of outstanding research and teaching in the field of European integration. This is the fourth time that the Europa-Institut on the Saarbrücken campus has received this prestigious award.

Raw materials law and raw materials policy are becoming increasingly important worldwide. The more the European Union favours clean energy instead of fossil fuels, the greater its need for raw materials such as lithium, graphite, cobalt and rare earths. The EU is also dependent on globally sought-after resources for the far-reaching changes in the digital transformation. "The EU's green and digital transformation processes are crucially dependent on secure access to the necessary raw materials. However, this interest in access must not be viewed in isolation. Rather, it must be harmonised with the European objectives and values enshrined in primary law," explains Jean Monnet Chair holder Marc Bungenberg, who teaches public law, public international law, European law and international economic law at Saarland University and is co-director of the Europa-Institut.

Competition for critical raw materials must not lead to human rights violations, exploitation or environmental destruction elsewhere, which would further fuel climate change. "Another aspect that should not be neglected is the geo-economic and geopolitical threats that can arise from supply dependencies. Sustainability goals must also be taken into account," explains Marc Bungenberg. "With the law on critical raw materials, the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, the European Union is trying to balance these aspects with the increasing demand for raw materials," he explains. The Act is intended to help ensure that the EU has a constant and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and to make its supply chains less vulnerable and less dependent on individual countries.

Professor Marc Bungenberg and his team at the Jean Monnet Chair will now be researching innovative solutions in this area. "Despite its considerable relevance, the legal dimension of the European supply of raw materials has so far received little attention in research and teaching. The activities of the new chair are intended to analyse this legal dimension in greater depth," says Marc Bungenberg, who already holds the second Jean Monnet Chair; from 2022 to 2024, this was the Jean Monnet Chair EU Constitutional Framework for International Dispute Resolution and Rule of Law.

Bungenberg and his team want to familiarise not only law students, but also students of other disciplines and the general public with the issues of raw materials law and raw materials policy and thus contribute to a better understanding of the interrelationships. "Nowadays, citizens are aware that the supply of energy must be sustainable and future-oriented, but many do not realise the connection with a sustainable supply and extraction of raw materials. This is where we want to educate people," says Marc Bungenberg. Together with his team at the chair, he is planning various activities. For example, pupils at schools in the Saarland will be able to find out about European integration and the tensions involved in the sustainable extraction and supply of raw materials in an interactive way during school days. A podcast is intended to reach a wider audience. Workshops, seminars, a Raw Materials Lab, a Global Classroom and many other activities are also planned.

Marc Bungenberg and his team have many years of teaching and research experience in the field of European and international raw materials law. Their results have convinced the EU Commission. The selection criteria in the Jean Monnet Programme are strict. Independent scientific experts evaluate the applications on the basis of the academic profile, the quality of the methodology and the work programme, the impact and relevance of the results and the innovative nature of the projects.

The Chair, officially entitled "Sustainable and Secure EU Raw Materials Law and Policy", is endowed with 60,000 euros and is the fourth Jean Monnet Chair to be awarded to Saarland University. This is also proof of the excellence of the Europa-Institut. Professor Thomas Giegerich, who heads the Europa-Institut together with Marc Bungenberg, has held two of the renowned Monnet Chairs. Marc Bungenberg previously held the Jean Monnet Chair "EU Constitutional Framework for International Dispute Settlement and Rule of Law".

A strong EU specialisation has been established at the Europa-Institut of Saarland University since 1951 and is constantly being strengthened. Since 1980, the Europa-Institut has offered a one-year Master's programme that attracts students from all over the world to Saarland. Renowned lecturers and practitioners teach European and international law here.

The EU Commission's Jean Monnet Programme is named after the spiritual father of European unification and Europe's first honorary citizen. Since 1989, the programme has supported outstanding and innovative university projects worldwide that promote knowledge and understanding of the European Union.