European Union
Mister Chairman,
Minerals and metals are essential for modern living. Raw materials are crucial for the
sustainable functioning of modern societies. Access to and affordability of mineral raw
materials are vital for the sound functioning of the world economy. Mine operations have an
enormous potential to create, contribute to and support sustainable development.
At the same time it is of vital importance to find new solutions to do more with less, to
increase the wealth and welfare of people and put less pressure on eco-systems. Access to raw
materials could be more limited in the future and therefore it will be necessary to minimise the
waste generated and increase recycling and reuse of resources to produce raw materials and
products.
The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation contains targets and timetables to spur actions to
fight poverty and protect the environment. It acknowledges the importance of mining,
minerals and metals to economic and social development and proposes specific actions to
enhance the contribution of these to sustainable development.
The EU has made progress internally and wishes to contribute to progress
internationally, addressing complex and unfolding issues.
In fostering sustainable mining practices, the EU has developed a number of best practices
and learnt several lessons. Progress has been made in Europe in the following key areas:
1. Increased resource efficiency, reuse and recycling;
2. Good Governance;
3. Management of Tailings and Waste-Rock in extractive industries activities;
4. Rehabilitation of abandoned mines and orphaned sites;
5. Health and Safety ? Protection of workers.
This concern has resulted in different European measures i.e. the biodiversity action plan, the
framework of Natura 2000 and the directive on management of waste from extractive
industries. This includes also the reference documents on the best available techniques for the
management of mining waste facilities. We hope that these can serve as good examples for
our cooperation on the global agenda.
However, EU recognises that, both internally and at international level, some issues
remain to be addressed and/or remain to be implemented. Some of these are:
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) for corporate self-regulation is used within
and between companies in, for instance, supply chain management. It is
fundamental that governments recognise that they have a crucial stewardship
role in rising CSR standards in the extractive industry.
Improve governance in the mining sector to ensure that natural resources
contribute to sustainable development and poverty eradication, through
initiatives such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
For rehabilitation of abandoned mines and orphaned sites guidance is required.
In some developing countries, new legislation is required and best practice needs
to be established and implemented.
The reduction of methane hazard in coal mines is necessary. Efficient regulation
and better understanding of methane migration through geological formations
deserve serious consideration.
A guidance document on extractive industries and Natura 2000 is being
developed by the Commission. The aim of the document is to provide guidance
pertaining to mineral extraction in order to ensure that extractive activities are
allowed to proceed where possible in a way that is compatible with the
conservation of biodiversity and the implementation of the Natura 2000 network.
The issues on Biodiversity in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
(specifically point 44 a) remain to be implemented.
There are many constraints preventing rapid achieving of the objectives of Agenda 21,
such as:
Governments need to develop and enhance interaction with and regulation of the
mining industry.
Weak national institutions with poor technical and financial capacity, low levels
of research and scientific capacity, low access to appropriate and efficient
technology and poor understanding of natural resources issues constrain the
sustainable management of the natural resource base.
There is a need for development of effective and efficient approaches to the
funding of closure.
Distributing benefits policies, legal and regulatory frameworks to facilitate
equitable participation by local businesses, communities, women and other
stakeholders in mining activities and significant change in the way that
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is adopted, implemented and regulated in
the national mining jurisdictions, is required.
Build the ecosystems dimension. Biodiversity and ecosystem services remain
under-valued or not valued at all. Impacts should be assessed and taken into
account when planning mining activities.
Having regard to the objectives of Agenda 21, the targets and timetables of the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, the EU overall objective on the sustainable use
of natural resources and the current policy stated in the ?The Raw materials initiative?,
the EU wishes to:
? Work with governments that seek to promote sustainable economic and social
development through investment in the extractive sector.
? Take a leadership role in further developing and strengthening the EITI and
certification systems in the mining sector. Encourage extractive sector companies to
consider self-regulation that will contribute to sustainable development and poverty
eradication.
? Establish mechanisms to promote capacity building; exchange of experiences;
identification and dissemination of best practices and creation of an appropriate
knowledge base on mineral resources for strategic thinking and policy innovations.
? Work with companies, like-minded countries and the World Bank Group to strengthen
CSR requirements.
? Encourage new management techniques and promote broad-based capacities
especially in science and technology.
? Increase availability of skills, knowledge and information Contribute to efforts to
enhance the health & safety performance of mining in general.
? Contribute to efforts to improve the social, environmental, health and safety aspects of
artisanal & small-scale mining, while recognizing the benefits derived through this
activity.
? Minimize environmental pressure resulting from mining to reduce environmental
impacts, with the emphasis on the use of domestic mineral resources.
? Ensure national long-term availability of raw materials by identifying mineral
resources priority areas during Land Use Planning, providing scope for developing a
more integrated approach in pursuit of sustainable development, through a more
balanced spatial use of the territories.
? Make ?no go? areas decisions on the basis of biodiversity and other values and
promote integration of biodiversity conservation goals in national mineral extraction
plans.
? Improve knowledge of the fundamental changes in the global markets threatening the
principals of competitiveness. Promote transparency to avoid measures that distort
international trade in raw materials. Ensure access to raw materials from international
markets under best possible conditions for all competitors, through enhanced dialogue
between producers and consumers.
The EU considers that the added value of CSD relies on its coordination potential expressed
notably through its role of mobilizing experts and decision makers in a number of different
fields that are essential for the development of policies. Since the mining issue in the context
of sustainable development has not been dealt with in depth within the UN framework, the
EU is looking forward to the CSD 18 discussions on this important topic. We attach particular
importance to the contribution and input to be given by Major Groups to this debate.
I thank you for your attention
Minerals and metals are essential for modern living. Raw materials are crucial for the
sustainable functioning of modern societies. Access to and affordability of mineral raw
materials are vital for the sound functioning of the world economy. Mine operations have an
enormous potential to create, contribute to and support sustainable development.
At the same time it is of vital importance to find new solutions to do more with less, to
increase the wealth and welfare of people and put less pressure on eco-systems. Access to raw
materials could be more limited in the future and therefore it will be necessary to minimise the
waste generated and increase recycling and reuse of resources to produce raw materials and
products.
The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation contains targets and timetables to spur actions to
fight poverty and protect the environment. It acknowledges the importance of mining,
minerals and metals to economic and social development and proposes specific actions to
enhance the contribution of these to sustainable development.
The EU has made progress internally and wishes to contribute to progress
internationally, addressing complex and unfolding issues.
In fostering sustainable mining practices, the EU has developed a number of best practices
and learnt several lessons. Progress has been made in Europe in the following key areas:
1. Increased resource efficiency, reuse and recycling;
2. Good Governance;
3. Management of Tailings and Waste-Rock in extractive industries activities;
4. Rehabilitation of abandoned mines and orphaned sites;
5. Health and Safety ? Protection of workers.
This concern has resulted in different European measures i.e. the biodiversity action plan, the
framework of Natura 2000 and the directive on management of waste from extractive
industries. This includes also the reference documents on the best available techniques for the
management of mining waste facilities. We hope that these can serve as good examples for
our cooperation on the global agenda.
However, EU recognises that, both internally and at international level, some issues
remain to be addressed and/or remain to be implemented. Some of these are:
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) for corporate self-regulation is used within
and between companies in, for instance, supply chain management. It is
fundamental that governments recognise that they have a crucial stewardship
role in rising CSR standards in the extractive industry.
Improve governance in the mining sector to ensure that natural resources
contribute to sustainable development and poverty eradication, through
initiatives such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
For rehabilitation of abandoned mines and orphaned sites guidance is required.
In some developing countries, new legislation is required and best practice needs
to be established and implemented.
The reduction of methane hazard in coal mines is necessary. Efficient regulation
and better understanding of methane migration through geological formations
deserve serious consideration.
A guidance document on extractive industries and Natura 2000 is being
developed by the Commission. The aim of the document is to provide guidance
pertaining to mineral extraction in order to ensure that extractive activities are
allowed to proceed where possible in a way that is compatible with the
conservation of biodiversity and the implementation of the Natura 2000 network.
The issues on Biodiversity in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
(specifically point 44 a) remain to be implemented.
There are many constraints preventing rapid achieving of the objectives of Agenda 21,
such as:
Governments need to develop and enhance interaction with and regulation of the
mining industry.
Weak national institutions with poor technical and financial capacity, low levels
of research and scientific capacity, low access to appropriate and efficient
technology and poor understanding of natural resources issues constrain the
sustainable management of the natural resource base.
There is a need for development of effective and efficient approaches to the
funding of closure.
Distributing benefits policies, legal and regulatory frameworks to facilitate
equitable participation by local businesses, communities, women and other
stakeholders in mining activities and significant change in the way that
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is adopted, implemented and regulated in
the national mining jurisdictions, is required.
Build the ecosystems dimension. Biodiversity and ecosystem services remain
under-valued or not valued at all. Impacts should be assessed and taken into
account when planning mining activities.
Having regard to the objectives of Agenda 21, the targets and timetables of the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, the EU overall objective on the sustainable use
of natural resources and the current policy stated in the ?The Raw materials initiative?,
the EU wishes to:
? Work with governments that seek to promote sustainable economic and social
development through investment in the extractive sector.
? Take a leadership role in further developing and strengthening the EITI and
certification systems in the mining sector. Encourage extractive sector companies to
consider self-regulation that will contribute to sustainable development and poverty
eradication.
? Establish mechanisms to promote capacity building; exchange of experiences;
identification and dissemination of best practices and creation of an appropriate
knowledge base on mineral resources for strategic thinking and policy innovations.
? Work with companies, like-minded countries and the World Bank Group to strengthen
CSR requirements.
? Encourage new management techniques and promote broad-based capacities
especially in science and technology.
? Increase availability of skills, knowledge and information Contribute to efforts to
enhance the health & safety performance of mining in general.
? Contribute to efforts to improve the social, environmental, health and safety aspects of
artisanal & small-scale mining, while recognizing the benefits derived through this
activity.
? Minimize environmental pressure resulting from mining to reduce environmental
impacts, with the emphasis on the use of domestic mineral resources.
? Ensure national long-term availability of raw materials by identifying mineral
resources priority areas during Land Use Planning, providing scope for developing a
more integrated approach in pursuit of sustainable development, through a more
balanced spatial use of the territories.
? Make ?no go? areas decisions on the basis of biodiversity and other values and
promote integration of biodiversity conservation goals in national mineral extraction
plans.
? Improve knowledge of the fundamental changes in the global markets threatening the
principals of competitiveness. Promote transparency to avoid measures that distort
international trade in raw materials. Ensure access to raw materials from international
markets under best possible conditions for all competitors, through enhanced dialogue
between producers and consumers.
The EU considers that the added value of CSD relies on its coordination potential expressed
notably through its role of mobilizing experts and decision makers in a number of different
fields that are essential for the development of policies. Since the mining issue in the context
of sustainable development has not been dealt with in depth within the UN framework, the
EU is looking forward to the CSD 18 discussions on this important topic. We attach particular
importance to the contribution and input to be given by Major Groups to this debate.
I thank you for your attention