Bruno Le Maire, French Minister for the Economy, Finance and Recovery and Peter Altmaier, German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, met yesterday, 17th February, and discussed key Franco-German industrial projects and the strengthening of European industrial policy. Euromines would like to stress that minerals and metals represent the basis for both our lives and any industrial production process. They provide everyday products and new solutions for modern infrastructure and technologies. The European metals and minerals sector can deliver critical materials needed for current and future technologies to create a climate neutral, service and welfare orientated, circular and resource-efficient and digital economy while sourcing raw materials in a sustainable and responsible way.

Euromines President Mr. Mark Rachovides officially announces that the Steering Committee has decided to appoint Mr. Rolf Kuby as the new Director of Euromines, starting 1 March 2021. Mr. Kuby's most recent roles were Head of EU Brussels Office of Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl and previously Director External Affairs and Head of EU office at Aurubius. He has an extensive experience with over 22 years in public affairs and EU advocacy and 8 years active involvement in sustainability strategies. Mr. Kuby is also a senior expert in EU Sustainability, Environment, Climate and Energy policies.

Euromines is publishing its Position on 'Implementation of the Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials' officially presented yesterday by Euromines President Mr. Mark Rachovides at the hearing of the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI) of the European Economic and Social Committee. The main topic of the Hearing of CCMI 177 opinion was the Critical Raw Materials Resilience.

Euromines welcomes a European Green Deal and is prepared to take the necessary measures to make Europe the world's first climate neutral continent. The Emission Trading System is one of the most important legal pillars and support systems for the European energy intensive industries. Therefore any amendment brought to it or any of its subsequent acts in the light of the proposed increased climate ambition for 2030 should be based on a stable, consistent, coherent, socio-economically feasible policy framework, allowing the implementation of the most efficient measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring that long-time goals and the international competitiveness of the industry are not endangered.