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 welcomed the Commission Communication “Critical Raw Materials Resilience: Charting a Path towards greater Security and Sustainability” (COM(2020)474 final). This document confirms the principles of the Raw Materials Initiative, launched in 2008 with the main objective of assure a sustainable and safe supply of mineral raw materials to the European industry and society, through three balanced pillars.

This communication includes an Action Plan where ten actions to diversify and strengthen Europe’s raw materials supply are proposed. It also states that the Commission “intends to develop and implement these priority objectives and the action plan with the help of Member States and stakeholders, in particular the EIP Raw Materials and the Raw Materials Supply Group.”

The Position Paper is now available.

Euromines welcomes a well-functioning, integrated electricity market

Euromines supports a stable and predictable energy and climate change policy that ensures sustainable growth and global competiveness for the EU industry as a whole as well as for the energy-intensive industries in particular. We share the belief that the main objective of energy policies should be securing energy at affordable prices as well as ensuring industrial competiveness while achieving appropriate climate reduction targets.

Euromines welcomes the European Union commitment to ensure a well-functioning, integrated electricity market allowing non-discriminatory market access for resource providers and electricity customers, empowering consumers, enabling demand response and energy efficiency, facilitating aggregation of distributed demand and supply, and contributing to the decarbonisation of the economy.  Nevertheless, the overall design of the electricity market should not undermine the essential economic, social and environment –related input needed by the society’s sustainable development. 

Euromines welcomes the Commission’s proposal aiming to promote energy efficiency within the European Union. However, the rules aiming at removing barriers and overcoming market failures should not lead to an overall increase in pressure and economic, social and environmental costs that might subsequently undermine the fundamental principle of sustainable development by making it impossible to serve the essential needs of mankind at present while protecting and ensuring the needs of future generations.

As the recognized representative of the European metals and minerals mining industry covering more than 42 different metals and minerals and employing 350.000 directly and about four times as many indirectly, Euromines welcomes the Commission's Sustainable Finance Action Plan for a low carbon, greener economy and agrees that such a socio - economically efficient, sustainable and flexible financial system will contribute to long-term value creation. 

In order to successfully contribute to the common objectives, it is essential that these initiatives on sustainable finance are followed by subsequent proportionate, accurate and fit for purpose documents which include measures and recommendations appropriate to all affected stakeholders.

In light of the above, Euromines would like to make a series of comments regarding the Technical Report on EU Taxonomy published by the Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance on 18^th of June 2019. The report is accompanied by a call for feedback as part of the ongoing work carried out by the Commission’s Directorate-general for financial stability, financial services and capital markets union, Directorate-general for environment, public consultation to which Euromines intends to participate and submit its input.

The hunt for Europe’s reserves is attracting money from across the globe.

European exploration expenditure is estimated to have reached approximately €400 million (US$300 million) in 2011, an alltime high, both for the Nordic countries and Western Europe in total. Raw Materials Group (RMG) expects exploration spending to increase during 2012 by 1015% to reach €450 million, of which €265 million will be in the Nordic region.

As the recognized representative of the European mineral raw materials industry covering more than 42 different metals and minerals and employing 350.000 directly and about four times as many indirectly, Euromines welcomes a European Green Deal to put Europe on the right track to a sustainable future. We also believe that an updated Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change should focus both on prioritizing policy areas and actions where EU interventions can be most effective as well as on assessing how to increase ambitions in a manner that best contributes to sustainable growth and enhances economic competitiveness.

In this context Euromines is prepared to take the necessary steps and bring its value added to a climate-resilient society, fully adapted to the unavoidable impacts of climate change, with reinforced adaptive capacity and minimal vulnerability.

The first segment of most value chains, the raw minerals sector is a supplier of critical materials and products to many sectors of the economy. With regards to climate change adaptation, the European minerals sector secures the availability of essential materials needed for a climate neutral, service and welfare orientated, circular and resource efficient economy. For example, the new infrastructure for alternative energies requires an increased use of metals and minerals, in particular steel for pipelines; copper and graphite for electricity cables, generators and electric motors; aluminium, primarily for electricity cables; and a host of other metals and minerals including phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen for biomass production. Also, solar photovoltaic panels and thermal systems use a combination of up to 22 non-ferrous metals, silicon, chemicals (e.g. organic electrolytes) and a specific type of flat glass.

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