EU Raw Materials Initiative: implementing an integrated strategy

Transcription

1 EU Raw Materials Initiative: implementing an integrated strategy Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee on Extractive Industries Plenary Meeting Brussels, 30 November 2010 Maria Spiliopoulou Deputy Head of Unit Unit ENTR/G/3 Metals, Minerals, Raw Materials

2 The Raw Materials Initiative Integrated strategy based on three pillars Right framework conditions within the EU in order to foster sustainable supply from European sources Ensuring access to raw materials from International Markets under the same conditions as other industrial competitors Boosting resource efficiency and recycling to reduce the EU's consumption of primary raw materials

3 Developments following the financial and economic crisis Economic and financial crisis led to slowdown in growth, but continued growth by emerging countries will keep pressure on demand for raw materials Raw materials as essential component of Europe 2020 Strategy

4 Define critical raw materials

5 Define critical raw materials 41 raw materials analysed Three main aggregated indicators (economic importance, supply risks and environmental country risks) Transparent methodology Report released in June 2010

6 List of 14 critical raw materials Antimony Beryllium Cobalt Fluorspar Gallium Germanium Graphite Indium Magnesium Niobium Platinum Group Rare earths Tantalum Tungsten

7 Critical raw materials High supply risks due to high share of the worldwide production China (antimony, fluorspar, gallium, germanium, graphite, indium, magnesium, rare earths, tungsten) Russia (Platinum Group metals) Congo (cobalt, tantalum) Brazil (niobium, tantalum) And low substitutability and recycling rates

8 Recommendations Two types of recommendations follow-up and further support policy-oriented recommendations (areas where measures should be undertaken)

9 Pillar 1 ensuring access to global markets at undistorted conditions

10 Trade policy actions Challenging unjustified trade distortive measures On 23 June 2009 EU requested WTO consultations on Chinese export restrictions on 9 raw materials (coke, bauxite, fluorspar, silicon carbide, zinc, magnesium and manganese, silicon metal and yellow phosphorous), jointly with US and Mexico In January 2010 a WTO Panel was launched Bilateral negotiations on export restrictions Raising awareness Trade Annual Activity Report 2009

11 Sustainable access and development policy African Union Commission / European Commission agreement in Addis Ababa, June 2010, to launch a bilateral co-operation in three areas: Governance Infrastructure / investment Geological knowledge / skills Based on African Mining Vision and EU Raw Materials Initiative

12 Pillar 2 fostering sustainable supply from European sources

13 Access to land Promote the exchange of best practice in land use planning and administrative conditions for exploration and extraction Guidelines promoting the compatibility of NEEI in relation to Natura 2000 conservation goals Encourage better networking between national geological surveys to increase the EU's knowledge base With courtesy by Knauf Gips KG Develop medium to long term strategies to integrate subsurface components and spatial information into land-use planning

14 Best practices key elements - findings - Definition of a National Minerals Policy, based on sustainable development principles and appropriate legal framework Legal framework includes mineral acts, a transparent fiscal framework and effective safeguarding of actual and potential mineral resources through land use planning Setting up of a land use planning policy for minerals that comprises: a digital geological knowledge base a transparent methodology for identification of mineral resources long term estimates for regional and local demand and identifying and safeguarding mineral resources

15 Best practices key elements - findings - clear and understandable minerals exploration and extraction authorisation process which contributes to the streamlining of the administrative process, e.g.: introduction of lead times permit applications in parallel one-stop-shop / parallel assessment individual Member States to decide which elements of best practice to adopt, based on national circumstances

16 Geological knowledge base - findings - Need for harmonised EU-level data sets Standardised and accurate statistical data and its annual publication on World wide minerals production Imports and exports Harmonisation will create uniform terminology and standardise the terms and definitions used by Geological Surveys Serve to analyse trends and help decision makers to better understand and monitor the EU s supply and demand situation and related risks.

17 Promote research Assessments and homogenising multi-layer information system within the ProMine-Project Commission building European a basis and forindustry 3D and 4D modelling. Enterprise ProMine Launched in 2009 Budget: 17 million 27 partners from 11 Member States Aims to improve the EU s knowledge base for actual and future deposits Develop the first ever pan-european GIS-based mineral resources database and a detailed 4D computer modelling system

18 Promote research Under FP7 new funding opportunities have recently been created for projects on: Advanced underground technologies for intelligent mining Substitution of critical raw materials Coordination of activities in Member States in the area of the industrial handling of raw materials Eco-efficient management of industrial water (including mining)

19 Pillar 3 boost resource efficiency and promote recycling

20 Promote recycling Huge potential of EU s Urban Mines Need to tackle illegal shipment of waste to third countries facilitate the control of shipments through EU-wide inspection standards for waste promote research on technologies for detection, identification, tracking and location of illegal shipments consider strengthening of IMPEL Need to tackle obstacles to the functioning of the recycling market: developing best practices in the area of collection and treatment of key waste streams developing ecodesign measures aimed at fostering more efficient use of raw materials in products

21 Increase resource efficiency Promote research projects on resource-efficient products and production; development of substitutes The Commission also plans to publish a Roadmap on how to move towards a resource efficient Europe by summer The roadmap will set out specific resource efficiency objectives, and how to meet them, based on actions up to 2020 with a time perspective of up to 2050.

22 Way forward Implementation work with Member States and stakeholders ongoing Council Conclusions of May & December 2009 and March 2010 endorsed overall thrust and objectives of RMI Public consultation underlined the need to further pursue and strengthen the RMI Communication of the to Council by end of January 2011.

23 Thank you for your attention! Report on critical raw materials: Report on best practices in area of land use planning, permitting and geological knowledge: Natura 2000 guidelines: Trade raw materials activity report 2009: Public consultation on RMI