On 5 April 2022, the European Commission proposed the inclusion of the (non-energy) mining sector into the scope of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) as part of the IED Review. 

The European mining sector is already covered by an ambitious and established permitting system ensuring transparent procedures and stakeholder participation. The mining sector is subject to a dense set of European and national environmental and mining legislation ensuring the highest environmental, climate and safety standards. On the other hand, the IED-system is not suitable for the mining sector and its inclusion would have no environmental benefits. The IED-system of Best Available Techniques will not be functional for the variety of mine types, mine operations and specific mining installations.  It will only hamper and prolong procedures for obtaining mining permits.

Euromines asks the European Parliament and the Council to amend the Commission’s proposal and to exclude the mining sector from the scope of the IED (deletion of Annex I, No. 3.6.). 

It is obvious that two years of COVID-19 and the Russian war against Ukraine have widely disturbed industrial supply chains and set the security of raw materials supply at risk. Against this background, it is not the time to launch a new additional legislative burden for the industry. Under a wider perspective, Euromines would therefore support postponing the further discussion on the IED revision, also because it could hamper the competitiveness of the industry.

Read the Euromines Position - on the Revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive

Overview of the European mining sector contribution to the 7 EU Priorities:

• Ensure a full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
• Build the Union of tomorrow
• Global leadership in fighting climate change
• Shape our own digital solutions and establish Europe’s digital sovereignty
• Make our economy more resilient and robust
• Defend our common values and strengthen our democratic model 
• Strengthen the EU's role as a global actor

The more ambitious climate targets, the more metals and minerals needed for a clean energy transition. European mining companies and mining technology companies are essential for European value chains and thus crucial for overcoming post-pandemic global economic crisis. Read more on sustainable mining best practice cases in the attached publication.

Euromines supports the preparation of EU nature restoration targets in 2021. The different policies like the Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the Zero Pollution Action Plan, but also other related policies like the Industrial Strategy and the list of Critical Raw Materials, must be coherent. A proactive dialog between our sector and EU decision makers is key to let our sector interact as source for EU businesses within the unique EU framework of nature protection. The European mineral raw materials industry can contribute with its best practices of biodiversity conservation.

Due to its long mining history, Europe has developed unique competence in rehabilitation and eco-system management and the European mining sector actively supports the conservation of biodiversity.

Euromines has made significant contributions to the science of Life Cycle Assessment, on which the Environmental Footprint methods are based (click here for a full list of peer-reviewed publications). Since 2013, Euromines has been actively engaged in the European Commission’s Environmental Footprint (EF) and has helped develop, during the EF Pilot Phase, the ‘Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for Metal Sheets in Various Applications’. Through our involvement in the EF Pilot Phase, the PEF Guidelines have been improved, but not all the defined shortcomings have been resolved to ensure that the methodology is sufficiently robust for use in EU policy, and does not lead to inappropriate results. In particular, the need to develop a better method of assessing the impacts of Resource Use in the years to come has been formally expressed and the European Commission has committed to invest jointly with the industry in the development of an alternative approach to better quantify the potential for conservation of resources.

Read the full version of the Euromines feedback to Legislative proposal on substantiating green claims using PEF.

The Euromines Annual Report 2019 is now available! This year, we present what Euromines is doing to secure supply chains in a rapidly changing world. The European mineral raw materials sector supports a wide variety of industries through the supply of raw materials, and in this role as well as within the mining sector itself, we must prioritise both sustainable efforts and competitiveness.

As Euromines President Mark Rachovides states in the Foreword:

“Today’s decision makers’ contexts, terms of reference, priorities and language have changed. They want and fear different things that reflect a new consensus, whether we like that or not, and that is an opportunity, not a threat.”

As always, we are certain in the ability of Euromines and our members to rise to the occasion and find solutions to today’s challenges.

Resource accessibility for humans in the future is a complex concept and therefore needs to be adequately understood and reflected. The general equations for characterisation Life Cycle Impact Assessment models developed by the SUPRIM project represent a new state-of-art and are the most reliable of their kind thanks to the unique mix of expertise existing within the project consortium.

The proposed SUPRIM method responds to the European Commission’s call to develop a life-cycle based impact assessment method for resource use based on dissipation concepts for use in its Product Environment Footprint and Organisation Environment Footprint methodologies.

Climate change is an undeniable and critical global challenge and its causes must be addressed by everybody as inaction is no longer an option. Transitioning to a low-carbon economy and achieving the EU climate targets will require large amounts of resources and efforts. The European magnesia sector recognizes the need to respond to this challenge and is committed to take the necessary measures to ensure that it is part of the solution.

Provider of main primary raw materials for several value chains such as steel, agriculture, paper, cement, ceramics, rubber and plastics, glass, pharmaceuticals, the European magnesia industry is a strategic supplier generating value added through employment, economic growth, development, innovation and trade. Hence, our sector is committed to engage along the value chain to ensure that climate change risks are adequately taken into consideration, decarbonisation actions are adopted and implemented and emissions are mitigated and reduced.

Euromines brochure is a brief overview of the importance of mineral raw materials for the EU future development. Raw materials are the key enablers of many important policies that will shape our future, such as adaptation to and mitigation of the climate change challenges.

The EU has the potential to increase its capacity to source mineral raw materials domestically and sustainably. It is not a lack of resources; it is a lack of exploration with latest technology that feeds the myth of depleting resources. By increasing mineral domestic production, Europe becomes less dependent and improves its sustainable supply chain.

Mineral Raw Materials in modern society are the lifeblood of the economy. They are the basis for many sectors like agriculture, construction, IT, electronics, energy, chemistry, manufacturing, medicine. Raw materials depending industries in the EU provided 206 billion EUR of added value.

The economic importance of the raw materials sector goes far beyond the sector’s own economic activities.
Whilst engaging about 350.000 jobs within the EU, there are more than 24.6 million jobs in downstream
manufacturing industries depend on the secure supply of mineral raw materials.

The European mineral raw materials industry contributes to sustainable development by integrating economic growth with environmental protection, social progress and effective governance. The UN laid out a sustainable development agenda to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Euromines supports these goals and is committing to working toward their fulfillment. Have a look and explore how the European mineral raw materials industry enabling the UN Sustainable Development Goals.