Raw Materials for Europe’s survival

Brussels: Euromines President Mr. Mark Rachovides lead the first Euromines Annual Press Conference today. The aim of the Press Conference was to provide information on the state of the mining industry in Europe and to raise awareness about its contribution to economic growth.

“Europe 2020 articulates an aim to return to Europe’s leading role in industrial production. Raw materials are essential to that and more, to Europe’s very survival as one of the world’s leading economies” highlighted Mr. Rachovides in his speech.

Currently the mining industry provides jobs for more than 350,000 people in Europe. Given that many industry sectors depend on raw materials, mining helps ensure the employment of some 30 million people in Europe. The mining industry has the potential to contribute further to the 2020 goal if new projects can be developed and existing ones extended.

The extractive sector welcomes the acknowledgement of the importance of raw materials by the Council of the European Union that considers secure, sustainable and affordable access to natural resources and raw materials both inside and outside EU territory as crucial for ensuring the competitiveness of European industry as well as for innovation and employment. It also welcomes the remit provided to the proposed European Commissioners, in particular in the areas of competitiveness, environment, and energy.

Fostering EU competitiveness is one of the priorities of the Commission and EU Member States. The mining industry recognizes the importance of industrial competitiveness and agrees that this should remain a major objective of the EU, as acknowledged in the Europe 2020 strategy. This goes hand in hand with the new remit of the new Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, with the aim of raising the profile and importance of industry in the economy, from less than 16% today towards an aspirational 20% of EU GDP by 2020.

“New EU policy initiatives deserve our participation and support. We must be part of shaping their outcomes. Innovation, research and resource efficiency are themes at the core of what we do. We are long-term investors, creating jobs and skills and paying taxes, often in the regions of Europe that need them most” concluded Mr. Rachovides his presentation.

For more information please contact: Veronika Sochorova (Communication Manager Euromines) sochorova@euromines.be, or visit: www.euromines.org