Natural Resources

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European Regulation on the responsible sourcing of minerals: The EU is (once again) about to weaken the upcoming Regulation

The European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) calls on representatives of European Union (EU) Member States and of the European Parliament participating in the trilogue to revisit their copy on the establishment of the ‘White List’ of smelters and refiners certified as ‘responsible’ and on the definition of exemption thresholds for ‘small’ volumes of minerals and metals of tin, tantalum and tungsten (commonly called the ‘3Ts’) and gold imported into the EU.

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POLICY BRIEF - European Regulation on the responsible sourcing of minerals: The EU is (once again) about to weaken the upcoming Regulation

The European Network for Central Africa (EurAc) calls on representatives of Member States and of the European Parliament participating in the trilogue to revisit their copy on the establishment of the ‘White List’ of smelters and refiners certified as ‘responsible’ and on the definition of exemption thresholds for ‘small’ volumes of ‘3Ts’2 and gold minerals and metals imported into the European Union (EU).

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EU: Conflict Minerals agreement reached as exemptions added

The European Union (EU) has today taken a positive, but half-hearted, step towards cleaning up Europe’s trade in minerals. EU legislators concluded their negotiations on a new law on so-called ‘conflict minerals’—a Regulation which is meant to ensure that minerals entering the EU do not finance conflict or human rights violations.

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JOINT POLICY BRIEF - EU Responsible Mineral Sourcing Regulation: civil society response to the Council mandate agreed by COREPER on 7 December 2015

EurAc and its partners are deeply concerned that the Council mandate agreed by COREPER on 7 December 2015 has proposed reopening and weakening the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, an established standard negotiated and agreed by industry, governments and civil society. This is of little help to the EU companies that are already implementing it, and limits the effectiveness of the EU’s response to the trade in conflict minerals.

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EU political agreement on conflict minerals risks allowing a deadly trade to continue

Despite its rhetoric on responsible business Europe has prioritised profit over people, said civil society organisations after European Union (EU) institutions agreed on a new law intended to tackle the European conflict minerals trade.
 
The extraction and trade of minerals has been linked to conflict and human rights abuses around the world. The EU is a major destination for minerals, with companies bringing them into Europe in both their raw form and as part of everyday products from laptops and mobile phones to engines and jewellery.
 
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[EurAc_Info] 8 Dec 2016 - EU/EurAc-OSEPI-Egmont Institute conference on DRC political deadlock in Brussels; DRC/CENCO talks to resume/Rassemblement open to dialogue with Kabila/Elections budget increased/Moise Katumbi; BURUNDI/Mkapa in Burundi

Submitted by Julie Capoulade on Tue, 13/12/2016 - 17:33
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[EurAc_Info] 13 Dec 2016 - EU/Foreign Affairs Council conclusions: EU sanctions on 7 DRC Senior officials + support to CENCO dialogue; DRC/US sanctions agaisnt Kalev & Boshab/CENCO dialogue/pro-democracy activists arrested; BURUNDI/Mkapa/tribute

Submitted by Julie Capoulade on Tue, 13/12/2016 - 17:24
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The sustainable management of natural resources can constitute a significant lever for reducing poverty and for regional stability. Unfortunately, local populations generally undergo the negative impacts of this exploitation.

EurAc calls for a more transparent and sustainable management of resources, so as to make it favorable to the interests of the most vulnerable populations.