The National Strategy for Sustainable Regional Development 2021-2030 is the umbrella policy for regional strategy and central to coordinating with rural, urban development, environmental, and other policies. The Region Örebro County Regional Development Strategy 2022-2030 (NUTS III) guides how the county's municipalities, businesses, authorities, public administration, universities, and civil society should develop. It prioritizes areas crucial for long-term social, environmental, and economic sustainability, such as Climate, Environment, and Energy. This includes renewable energy, structural transition to a circular economy, and a sustainable supply of vital products and services. Mining and sustainable mineral value chains are not mentioned, despite the region's long history of mining, with active mines, cultural remnants, global mine technology suppliers like Epiroc and Orica, and smaller international technology suppliers like Drillcon and other important suppliers to the mining industry. We wish to investigate the feasibility of a regional mining strategy that aligns with the national strategy, emerging opportunities, and supports development in the mining sector on a regional scale.

The Finland mainland structural policy programme “Innovation and Skills in Finland 2021–2027 – EU regional " has been prepared in broad cooperation with representatives of ministries, regions and organisations. The programme supports business, energy, climate, innovation, education and employment policies and activities against exclusion and poverty.
It covers the measures of the ERDF, ESF+, and JTF cohesion funds. The PI's cross-cutting priorities are sustainable development, gender equality, non-discrimination, digital development, internationalisation, climate change, and innovation. The ERDF supports three of seven priority areas: Innovative Finland, Carbon Neutral Finland, and More Accessible Finland.
The programme management authority is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment in Finland. However, as stated in the Finland partnership agreement between Finland and the European Commission, the responsibility to manage the PI is transferred to the regions' intermediate bodies at the NUTS3 level. Regions are also developing interregional projects between the NUTS III regions of NUTS II (East and North Finland), encouraging the regional ecosystems to support greater collaboration.

The Lower Silesian Innovation Strategy 2030 (DSI 2030) is an operational and implementation-focused document designed to execute the objectives of the Lower Silesian Regional Development Strategy 2030 (SRWD 2030) in terms of innovation policy in Lower Silesia.

The strategy outlines goals and directions for supporting innovation, which will be reflected in regional initiatives, programs, and projects, including those co-financed under the EU budget framework for 2021-2027. The activities of participants in the Lower Silesian Innovation System will focus on developing forward-looking areas identified in DSI 2030 as Lower Silesian smart specializations: 1. Chemistry and Medicine, 2. Auto-Moto-Aero-Space, 3. Natural and Recycled Raw Materials, 4. Machinery and Equipment, 5. "Green Deal" - horizontal specialization, 6. "Industry 4.0" - horizontal specialization, 7. "Technology-assisted Life" - horizontal specialization.

The project's interest will focus on the "Natural and Recycled Raw Materials" specialization, which encompasses areas related to the extraction of mineral resources (particularly low- and zero-waste technologies) and the extraction of resources from waste (including energy materials and raw materials for further processing). Additionally, this specialization broadly covers technologies for processing metal ores, other mineral resources, natural raw materials, and, given the special role of water in the economy, the extraction and processing of water.

The PROTA aims to provide a cohesive and sustainable framework for the region's development, addressing economic, social, and environmental dimensions comprehensively. By aligning with national policies and incorporating regional and sectorial specificities, it seeks to promote a balanced and sustainable future for Alentejo.
It prioritizes regional cohesion, sustainable resource management, infrastructure development, and improved quality of life, by:
- ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources, including land, water, and minerals, to protect the environment and support long-term economic growth;
- establishing zoning regulations to delineate areas for different or specific uses, such as residential, industrial, agricultural, mining, and conservation zones. These regulations aim to optimize land use while minimizing conflicts between activities by balancing development and conservation needs.

The key measures include promoting economic diversification, protecting the environment (by protecting natural habitats and species by establishing protected areas, promoting the sustainable management of natural resources and minimizing environmental impact), enhancing infrastructure, and engaging local communities in the planning process. By integrating these objectives and measures, PROTA seeks to create a resilient and prosperous Alentejo.

The entity responsible for the development, implementation, and review of the PROTA is CCDRA IP.valuable resources.

The “Strategy for Sustainable Mining in Andalucia 2030” is the overarching policy instrument of the regional government to lead the development of a competitive and sustainable mining sector in the region. It builds on previous similar strategies and widens its scope to a strong sustainability approach. The strategy, adopted in June 2023, is owned by the department of Industry, Energy and Mines. It is driven by the interministerial commission for the promotion of sustainable mining (CIPMSA) and is based on a strong governance approach that brings together the sector stakeholders. It cooperates with the network of mining municipalities, which is dedicated to the exchange of good practices. It is also strictly linked with the project accelerator unit, which is already working on 7 extraction projects related to copper, zinc, led, iron, and tin. The strategy provides the basis for the multiannual implementation plans, and links the activities to other regional plans, including the ERDF programme 2021-2027, the regional S4, which includes 4 challenges for the mining sector. It aligns with the EU Gren Deal objectives and the UN SDG. It recognises the importance of the Critical Raw Material Act. The strategy is articulated on 11 strategic objectives and 5 priority areas, which include promotion of sustainability and strengthening of administrative capacity. It has a yearly evaluation cycle and is subject to a main midterm review in 2026.

Lviv Regional Environmental Protection Programme (LREPP) 2023–2027 is a key policy instrument designed to enhance environmental sustainability, circularity, and resource efficiency in the Lviv region, including the Sheptytskyi mining area. The programme aligns with both national and EU environmental policies, focusing on mitigating ecological risks and promoting sustainable resource management.
IT aims to reduce environmental pollution, rehabilitate degraded ecosystems, and facilitate the transition to a circular economy. It integrates innovative solutions in areas such as waste management, air and water quality improvement, and sustainable land use, particularly in mining and post-mining areas. LREPP takes a holistic approach to environmental protection, addressing various ecological challenges across multiple sectors.
LREPP incorporates an interdisciplinary approach that combines regulatory measures, technological advancements, and stakeholder engagement. It emphasizes green investments, eco-innovation, and NBS to tackle environmental challenges. Key priorities include recycling, industrial symbiosis, and sustainable mining waste utilization, alongside strengthened monitoring, pollution reduction, and compliance. Also supports afforestation, soil restoration, and climate resilience initiatives. By fostering cross-sector collaboration and innovation, LREPP directly contributes to the EMRIE project's goals.