Greek, Nordic Rare Earths Could Save EU Industry, Geologists Say

Rare-earth metals in Greece and the Nordic countries should be tapped to save Europe’s car and electronics industries from uncertain imports, a panel of geologists said today.

While Europe is rich with the rare-earth elements used to power batteries and produce magnets, leaders haven’t demonstrated the political will to tap them, according to Friedrich Wellmer, former president of Germany’s Geological Survey. Scientists at the European Geosciences Union’s annual meeting in Vienna urged policymakers to address the problem.