The European Union has announced plans to create strategic stockpiles of essential materials, including critical minerals and energy infrastructure components, as part of a broader effort to shield the 27-nation bloc from escalating geopolitical and environmental threats.

According to a draft strategy seen by the Financial Times, the EU will begin building stockpiles of vital goods such as rare earths, permanent magnets, cable repair modules, food, medicine, and even nuclear fuel. The European Commission says the move is necessary to counteract a deteriorating global risk environment.

The stockpiling program is in response to “rising geopolitical tensions, including conflict, the mounting impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and hybrid and cyber threats,” the document said.

Fears of Sabotage and Conflict Drive Policy Shift

Multiple recent incidents involving suspected sabotage of underwater communication cables and gas pipelines have heightened European fears about infrastructure vulnerability. In June, Germany’s top defense official warned that Russia could attack an EU member state within the next four years.

The European Commission said the bloc must be prepared for armed aggression and major supply chain disruptions. It also noted that the EU is warming at twice the global average—wildfires in Crete this week displaced 5,000 residents.

Security as a "Public Good"

Former Finnish president Sauli Niinistö, in an October report commissioned by the EU, said security should be considered a public good and urged Brussels to define minimum stockpile levels for various crisis scenarios.

The Commission’s plan also proposes:

• A stockpiling network across EU nations to improve coordination and supply-sharing.
• Incentives for private sector participation, such as tax credits for storing essential goods.
• Shared warehousing and NATO coordination for dual-use infrastructure.
• Region-specific lists of essential supplies tailored to climate and geopolitical risks.

Budget and Timelines

The proposals will be included in the EU’s next multiannual budget, to be presented later this month. A final version of the strategy is due for release next week.

The EU already maintains a fleet of emergency response aircraft, medical evacuation planes, and critical health infrastructure across 22 countries. But the Commission says the current system lacks coordination and consistency.