Support for carbon removals must not undermine efforts to slash emissions. To avoid this and to recognise the distinction between biogenic sequestration and permanent CDR, different targets and policies are necessary for emissions reduction, biogenic sequestration and permanent removals. The EU needs a clear and comprehensive strategy that is mindful of the risks, challenges and opportunities of supporting the development and scale-up of a sufficient supply of permanent removals. The CO2ol Down project, comprising representatives from academia, industry, and civil society, met during three full-day co-creation workshops and suggested the building blocks in this paper to structure an appropriate strategy for permanent removals.