European Commission applicant guide confirms cut-off date for CRMA “Strategic Projects” open call (includes REE permanent magnet materials)

The European Commission published/maintained the “Strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act – Guide for Applicants” (Version 1.1). The guide operationalizes implementation of CRMA Strategic Project recognition by describing the application process and confirming a submission cut-off date of 15 January 2026 at 12:00 CET (via EU Send WEB) for the referenced round. The guide explicitly includes rare earth elements for permanent magnets (Nd, Pr, Tb, Dy, Gd, Sm, Ce) within the strategic raw materials scope. For compliance and regulatory planning teams, this guidance is relevant because Strategic Project status is tied to CRMA implementation mechanisms (e.g., streamlined permitting and access-to-finance support) that can materially affect REE supply-chain project timelines and sourcing strategies.