EU Issues

The Raw Materials Supply Group

The Raw Material Materials Supply Group is a multi-stakeholder group under the auspices of DG Enterprise and Industry. It has the overall objective of enhancing the sustainable competitiveness of the non-energy extractive industry sector, i.e. mines and quarries for metals, industrial minerals and construction materials. The group exchanges information and discusses ongoing issues fro this industrial sector. It involves the different stakeholders: Commission representatives, delegates from Member States, industry federations, trade unions and non-Governmental Organisations (NGO's). Important recent initiatives include:

• Sustainable Development Indicators provide a valuable opportunity for the industry to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable development, through the reporting of the key economic benefits the sector provides, its commitment to social welfare and environmental protection. They can also provide a basis for more informed dialogue with interested parties, including permitting authorities, the general public and NGOs, on how the industry can continue to provide the raw materials which are vital to modern society in a way that best contributes to a sustainable Europe. The results of this voluntary initiative have been published for 2001 to 2003.
• A Reference Guide to Good Environmental Practice in the European Extractive Industry.
• Analysis of the competitiveness of the non-energy extractive industry in the EU: This Comission Staff Working Document provides a comprehensive analysis of the non-energy extractive industry and identifies the main issues impacting on its competitiveness.
• Proposed Communication, setting out a European strategy on non-energy raw materials: The growing global economy is putting significant pressure on the competitive situation of EU manufacturing industries and raises questions over costs and security of access to primary and secondary non-energy raw materials. The Commission considers that the situation calls for an integrated policy which covers trade, development, environment, external relations, research and industrial policies. Stakeholders are being consulted through an on-line questionnaire, open until 24 March 2008, on the issues and policy options raised in a background paper. The results of the consultation will be published.

EU Directive on the management of waste from the extractive industries 2006/21/EC

This Directive resulted from a number of serious environmental incidents relating to mine waste management, especially those at Baia Mare (Romania) and Aznalcóllar (Spain). It sets minimum Community-wide requirements for the management of waste from the extractive industry, involving mines, quarries, peat extraction, and some primary processing such as alumina refining, through a legal framework specifically tailored for this major waste stream. It particularly addresses two major environmental issues:

• minimisation of the potential for polluted drainage from extractive industry waste which can create environmental impacts during operations and long after both the waste facility and the associated mine or quarry have been closed.
• prevention of accidental escape of wastes that have the potential to threaten human life and/or create widespread environmental damage by ensuring the short and long -term stability of waste facilities.