European Minerals Forum discusses security of supply

Developing an EU strategy for security of supply of raw materials for Europe will be a key topic at this year's European Minerals Forum

The importance of having an EU strategy for the security of supply of aggregates will be one of the main topics discussed at this year's European Minerals Forum. EC vice president Günter Verheugen will present the 1022 European Commission's Raw Materials Initiative to an invited audience of senior industry representatives at the event on 26 November in Brussels. This EC initiative responds to the four key raw material challenges facing the 3654 European Union.

The debate on strategy for security of supply of raw materials for Europe will be launched by UEPG president Denis Mertens. The first challenge to be covered will be the need to increase the sustainable supply of raw materials.

Under the chairmanship of Alain Pasquier, secretary general of UNPG France, the UK's Quarry Products Association will identify the issues to be addressed. There will then be an opportunity for one of the European Commission drafters of the Raw Materials Initiative to contribute before the matter is debated by the industry representatives and the recommendations collated by Rapporteur Chris Dobbs, director of geology for 868 Tarmac.

The second challenge is the importance of ensuring sustainable and more transparent supply from other countries. Four expert speakers will make an input to this debate under the chairmanship of Eric Turner, vice president for sustainability at Rio Tinto Minerals. The speakers will be Eurometaux secretary general Monique Jones, Euromines secretary general Corina Hebestreit, Richard Nouza from the Czech Ministry of Industry and Madelaine Tuininga from the Commission's DG Trade.

Euroroc secretary general Gerd Merke will present the recommendations to the plenary session.

Establishing an adequate knowledge base of raw materials is the third challenge which has been advocated at European Union meetings by 1881 EuroGeoSurveys secretary general Patrice Christman. Expert speakers contributing to the debate will be Austrian Ministry expert Prof. Leopold Weber and Mike Baunton vice president of 395 Caterpillar Europe, Middle East and Africa. The session will be chaired by Erwin Kern, 4530 CEPMC president and the rapporteur will be secretary general of Euroroc, Gerd Merke.

The final session before vice president Verheugen's keynote speech will be targeted at the important subject of increasing public awareness of the importance of the European Minerals sector. This will be chaired by Thierry Salmona, president of IMA Europe.

Although valuable initiatives have been launched, much work remains to be done in this area if stakeholders and the public as a whole are to be convinced of the economic, environmental and social importance of the sector. Expert speakers will be Martin Casey, director of public affairs of 643 Cemex covering Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia. The World Conservation Union IUCN's view will then be presented by Sebastian Winkler who is heading up the Biodiversity Countdown 2010 campaign.

What are likely to be the next steps?

The immediate objective is to have a political document in the form of a European Commission Communication to be sent to the Council of Ministers. This is in response to their request in 2007. The document will also go to the 1066 European Parliament for their input. The Communication will have the effect of raising political awareness amongst policy makers and legislators. Awareness has so far been focused on the energy side and too little attention paid to the non energy minerals, which are also critical to the development and above all the competitiveness of the European Union.

According to the UEPG, the 2008 European Minerals Forum will provide an exceptional opportunity to ensure that industry views are included in the rapporteur recommendations to the Commission. Those industry representatives who would like a guest place, and have not yet reserved one, should email as soon as possible the 1051 European minerals foundation Secretariat at: [email protected].