Public funding of European countries and the European Commission are promoting groundbreaking initiatives to revolutionize battery recycling, promoting sustainability and efficiency in waste management. Central to these efforts is the development of new recycling processes designed to enhance resource recovery and minimize waste. Amongst the granted projects, one significant focus is on hydrometallurgical methods to process black mass, which allow for the efficient extraction of critical metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel from EoL batteries. Cleaner alternatives offer higher recovery rates and reduce environmental impact. Additionally, microwave-assisted treatment of battery waste is being promoted to improve material recovery efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Projects aim for replacing pyrometallurgical recycling with water-based processes to eliminate undesired side products, making recycling safer and more environmentally friendly. The use of molten salts as solvents in dissolving battery cathodes is another innovative approach proposed, enabling selective recovery of metals and enhancing purity and yield. Efforts to promote low-cost and green recycling processes are aimed at recovering materials from various battery types, reducing the carbon footprint, and improving economic sustainability. Advanced pre-treatment techniques like electrohydraulic fragmentation and ultrasonication are also riding high in Europe, which ensure high material purity and efficiency. Furthermore, several public funded projects support the development of disruptive biotechnological processes for bioleaching and metal recovery from batteries. Utilizing microorganisms, these methods provide a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional extraction techniques.