European Union
1
Statement on behalf of the European Union and its 27 Member States
By
Támas HAMOR
Head of Division
Hungarian Office for Mining and Geology
Republic of Hungary
Intergovernmental preparatory meeting
of the 19th Commission on Sustainable Development
Mining Session
United Nations
New York
2 March 2011
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
2
CSD 19 IPM
Draft statement on Mining
(New York, 2 March 2011)
Mr. Chair,
Distinguished Delegates,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its 27
Member States.
Minerals and metals are essential for modern living. Access to and
affordability of mineral raw materials are crucial for the sound and
sustainable functioning of the world economy and modern societies. Mine
operations, when properly managed, also have an enormous potential to
create, contribute to and support sustainable development of
communities.
In the 21st century, mining mineral extractive industries can continue to be
a fundamental sector for sustainable development and poverty
eradication. The resource paper of the Bureau shows important steps in
the right direction. But, above all, the EU believes that an integrated and
holistic approach is necessary in the mining sector to address the existing
challenges.
The EU would like to share the following priorities with CSD 19 IPM
delegates, which are ? in our view - required for good environmental,
social and economic governance of the mining sector and the generation
of equitable sharing of benefits, contributing to sustainable development
when progressively implemented.
In this context, we would set as the first EU priority on Mining the
Development of Good Governance in the Mining Sector.
The EU wishes that the UN, working together with Governments,
companies and relevant stakeholders, that seek to promote economic,
environmental and social development through investment in the
extractive sector, promotes and improves governance through strong
recommendations to Governments to develop and produce guidelines and
best practices covering the Legal, Policy and Institutional Environment,
and the Producer Countries Benefit Maximization in terms of Financial,
3
Economic and Social Benefit Maximization. There is also a need to
improve working and living conditions of miners, as well as, to address the
issue of children working in mines, while protecting livelihoods.
Environment and Natural Resources Management is also a priority issue
for the EU. We consider that more efforts have to be done to increase
resource efficiency and reduce waste generation, notably by increasing
recycling/reuse and improving the design of the products.
The EU also considers that it is fundamental to build the eco-systems
dimension by integrating the promotion of biodiversity conservation goals
into national and regional mineral extraction plans. A guidance document
on mining and preservation of biodiversity has been published by the EU.
As far as mine wastes, surface and ground water protection and energy
consumption minimization are concerned, the EU considers that priority
attention should be given to:
1- Minimizing the waste generated, through modified patterns of
production and consumption contributing to waste prevention, reuse,
recycling and converting waste into products.
2- Increasing recycling and reuse of water and other natural resources,
protecting surface and ground water from contamination and minimizing
the energy used to produce raw materials and derived products.
3- Developing a broad sustainable framework to be applied worldwide to
the initial design of storage facilities, tailings and waste management,
closure, post-closure and remediation of abandoned mine sites in such a
way that they present negligible public health, safety and environmental
risks, and low social and environmental impacts during operation and
post-closure.
As EU?s third priority, we consider the Post Mining Transition Period to
be of the utmost importance. In this regard, we believe that there is a
need for Governments:
- to provide legal and regulatory frameworks for closure;
4
- to have the institutional capacity to monitor and enforce their
provisions;
- to require that stakeholders be consulted in the development of
closure objectives and plans;
- to ensure that a comprehensive closure report and adequate
financial assurance be provided before the requisite
development and mining permits for a new mine are approved.
On the other hand, there is also a need for the development of effective
and efficient approaches to the funding of closure.
Finally, we believe it is necessary to focus on the legacies of the past in the
form of abandoned and orphan sites of minerals related activity, including
their waste facilities.
The Fourth EU Priority on Mining concerns the Informal and formal
Artisanal and Small-scale Mining. In this regard, we find it most
important that informal artisanal and small-scale mining operates
according to basic environmental and social standards. Ultimately, policies
and development programs are needed to allow for the
professionalization and formalization of these activities. Health and
educational needs of children in Artisanal and Small-scale Mine
environments deserve special attention.
It is equally important to promote and support the formal artisanal and
small-scale mine sector. Policies and regulations need to be drafted in
order to ensure that formal artisanal and small-scale miners are regarded
and treated as official members of the national mining industry.
Finally, Markets Transparency in the International Mineral Trade is what
the EU would elect as the fifth priority in terms of a more sustainable
agenda for the mining sector.
In this context, the EU deems that it is necessary:
5
- An improvement of knowledge of the fundamental changes in
the global markets that are threatening the principles of
competitiveness.
- Promotion of transparency to avoid measures that distort
international trade in raw materials.
- Ensuring access to raw materials from international markets
under best possible conditions for all competitors, through
enhanced dialogue between producers and consumers. The
specific interests of Least Developed Countries should be taken
into account in this dialogue.
Thank you.
6
Annex
Background and detailed position of the EU and its Member States
Minerals and metals are essential for modern living. Access to and affordability of mineral raw
materials are crucial for the sound and sustainable functioning of the world economy and
modern societies. Mine operations, when properly managed, also have an enormous potential
to create, contribute to and support sustainable development of communities as they can create
opportunities for growth and development through: enhanced revenue derived taxes and
royalties; job creation; knowledge, skills and technology transfers; provision of infrastructure and
social services (including health, water supply, and education); Mining operations can also
foster clusters of lateral, up and downstream linkages; and SME development to provide goods
and services for the mining industry.
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. The access to specific
rare or energy consuming raw materials will be more and more limited in the future. Therefore
we have to use raw materials with care by minimising the waste generated, increasing recycling
and reuse of resources and by designing products using less resources and with an increased
life time.
In the 21st century, mining mineral extractive industries can and will continue to be a
fundamental sector for sustainable development and poverty eradication. Therefore, an
integrated and holistic approach is necessary in the mining sector to address the above
mentioned challenges.
EU ? priorities, desired outcomes
Having regard to the objectives of Agenda 21, the targets and timetables of the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; EU?s Raw Materials Initiative (RMI), the
European Union's Strategy for jobs and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth (also
known as Europe 2020 Strategy) including the overall objective of sustainable use of
natural resources; the current ongoing work on raw materials, competitiveness,
development issues, resource-efficiency; the Chair Summary Parts I & II (advanced
unedited text) of CSD-18 and the Report of the Secretary-General for CSD-19 - Policy
options and actions for expediting progress in Implementation: Mining;
Taking into account that many delegations stated at the review session that CSD19
policy decisions should include a number of actions to promote sustainable
development and management of mining activities which would benefit from
international cooperation;
Noting that such measures should be aimed at: strengthening governance,
transparency, and public accountability; building technical and managerial capacities;
developing new mining technology; promoting investment and technology transfer;
ensuring rehabilitation and benefit sharing.
The EU would like to share the following priorities with CSD 19 delegates, which are ? in our
view - required for good environmental, social and economic governance of the mining sector
and the generation of equitable sharing of benefits, contributing to sustainable development
when progressively implemented.
First EU priority on Mining
Development of Good Governance in the Mining Sector
7
1.1. Legal, Policy and Institutional Environment
Governments require a broad set of laws, policies, regulations and guidelines to manage social
and environmental risks and impacts, to maximize social and economic benefits from mining
activities and to enhance development opportunities related to mining investment., Institutional
capacity is a prerequisite for the responsible management of natural resources and good
governance in the mining sector.
Taking that into account, the EU wishes that the UN, working together with Governments,
companies and relevant stakeholders that seek to promote economic, environmental and social
development through investment in the extractive sector, develops and produces guidelines
and best practices covering:
? Modern legal and policy environments [national mineral policies, mining and waste
codes, contract law (including arbitration), financial codes and taxation regimes, policies
that favour/support local entrepreneurship, etc].
? Mechanisms to promote administrative capacity building in order to support the
development of weak national institutions with poor legal, technical and financial
abilities.
? Mechanisms to foster domestic accountability.
? Mechanisms to promote the creation of national appropriate knowledge bases on
mineral resources (geological surveys, universities, etc.) for strategic thinking and policy
innovations.
and promotes improved governance through strong recommendations to Governments
to:
? Encourage extractive sector companies and civil society to consider participation in the
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), certification initiatives and other
relevant self-regulation that can contribute to sustainable development and poverty
eradication.
? Adhere to or ratify relevant international treaties and conventions, including international
instruments specific to mining (ILO Convention n.º 176 on Safety and Health in Mines to
enhance the health & safety performance of mining in general).
1.2. Producing Countries Benefit Maximization
The EU wishes that the UN, working together with Governments and companies,
develops and produces guidelines and best practices covering:
1.2.1 Financial Benefit Maximization
It is essential that the mining industry contributes materially through rents, royalties and
other transparent forms of payments avoiding transfer pricing and tax evasion, for an
equitable revenue distribution between Companies and States. Promotion of domestic
resource mobilisation is one of the objectives of the Seoul G20 agenda. In this perspective,
strengthening mining tax regimes and fiscal policies to provide a sustainable revenue base
to inclusive growth is essential
In fact, mining activities only contribute to sustainable development if they generate
appropriate and equitable revenues for producing countries. Sound and balanced fiscal
regimes as well as good financial governance are necessary in order to guarantee long
term benefits. Furthermore, the mining industry should ensure that it creates opportunities
for local participation and contributes to local revenue distribution.
Taking this into account, the UN, working together with Governments, companies and the
civil society should develop and produce guidelines and best practices covering
mechanisms to promote effective deployment of resource rents and support financial
administration capacity building.
8
1.2.2. Economic Benefit Maximization
A modern, efficient and high efficacy mine, able to maximize the economic benefits of the
exploitation of an ore body for all the stakeholders, needs to adopt the most adequate
knowledge and technology, use the best practices and be managed with modern
techniques. It is important to promote industry exchange of experiences; encourage the
adoption of new management techniques; promote broad-based capacities especially in
science and technology; and adopt new and emerging technologies, to better harness
natural resource wealth to support growth and promote sustainable development. It is also
important to develop infrastructure, local skills, knowledge and information as they are vital
to improve sustainable extractive industries production and improve the livelihoods of local
communities affected by mining operations.
1.2.3. Social Benefit Maximization
Mining companies are increasingly adopting holistic corporate social responsibility charters
and development approaches that have a better potential to significantly uplift and
empower local communities.
? Policy decisions should:
Bear in mind the need to respect and promote human rights? protection.
Support Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) undertakings.
Include benefit distribution policies and guiding tools to improve revenue
distribution, balancing and managing conflicting local and national-level
interests, ensuring that a reasonable share of mining revenues goes to those
communities close to and disproportionately affected by mining operations.
Contain regulatory frameworks to facilitate and support equitable participation
by local businesses, communities, women and other stakeholders in mining
activities.
Second EU Priority on Mining
Environment and Natural Resources Management
More efforts are to be done to increase resource efficiency and reduce waste, notably by
increasing recycling/reuse and improving the design of the products.
It is fundamental to:
2.1. On the eco-systems dimension & biodiversity
? Build the eco-systems dimension, integrating the promotion of biodiversity
conservation goals in national mineral extraction plans. A guidance document on
mining and preservation of biodiversity has been published by the EU.
2.2. On mine wastes, surface and ground water protection and energy consumption
minimization
Minimise the waste generated, through modified patterns of production and
consumption contributing to waste prevention, reuse, recycling and converting
waste into products.
Increase recycling and reuse of water and other natural resources, protect surface
and ground water from contamination and minimize the energy used to produce
raw materials and derived products.
Develop a broad sustainable framework to be applied worldwide to the initial
design of storage facilities, tailings and waste management, closure, post-closure
and remediation of abandoned mine sites in such a way that they present
negligible public health, safety and environmental risks, and low social and
environmental impacts during operation and post-closure. The EU, has drafted
9
such a framework with the participation of the stakeholders including the mining
sector. It serves as a reference for issuing permits in the EU and covers all
extractive industries.
Third EU Priority on Mining
Post Mining Transition
? There is a need for Governments to: i) provide legal and regulatory frameworks for closure;
ii) have the institutional capacity to monitor and enforce their provisions; iii) require that
stakeholders be consulted in the development of closure objectives and plans; iv) require
that a comprehensive closure report and adequate financial assurance are provided before
the requisite development and mining permits for a new mine are approved.
? There is a need for development of effective and efficient approaches to the funding of
closure.
? It is necessary to focus on the legacies of the past in the form of abandoned and orphan
sites of minerals related activity, including their waste facilities.
Fourth EU Priority on Mining
Informal and Formal Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM)
It is important that informal artisanal and small-scale mining operates according to basic
environmental and social standards. Ultimately, policies and development programs are needed
to allow for the professionalization and formalization of these activities. Health and educational
needs of children in ASM environments deserve special attention.
It is equally important to promote and support the formal ASM sector. Policies and regulations
need to be drafted in order to ensure that formal artisanal and small-scale miners are regarded
and treated as official members of the national mining industry.
This would include support for, inter alia, the Association for Responsible Mining and the
international initiative Communities and small-scale Mining (CASM). This applies equally to the
G8 pilot project ?Certified Trading Chains (CTC) in Mineral Production as well as the OECD
implementation phase of the due diligence guidance for responsible supply chains of minerals
from conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
Fifth EU Priority on Mining
Markets Transparency in the International Mineral Trade
Improve knowledge of the fundamental changes in the global markets threatening the principles
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 specific interests of Least Developed Countries should be taken into account in this
dialogue.
Statement on behalf of the European Union and its 27 Member States
By
Támas HAMOR
Head of Division
Hungarian Office for Mining and Geology
Republic of Hungary
Intergovernmental preparatory meeting
of the 19th Commission on Sustainable Development
Mining Session
United Nations
New York
2 March 2011
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
2
CSD 19 IPM
Draft statement on Mining
(New York, 2 March 2011)
Mr. Chair,
Distinguished Delegates,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its 27
Member States.
Minerals and metals are essential for modern living. Access to and
affordability of mineral raw materials are crucial for the sound and
sustainable functioning of the world economy and modern societies. Mine
operations, when properly managed, also have an enormous potential to
create, contribute to and support sustainable development of
communities.
In the 21st century, mining mineral extractive industries can continue to be
a fundamental sector for sustainable development and poverty
eradication. The resource paper of the Bureau shows important steps in
the right direction. But, above all, the EU believes that an integrated and
holistic approach is necessary in the mining sector to address the existing
challenges.
The EU would like to share the following priorities with CSD 19 IPM
delegates, which are ? in our view - required for good environmental,
social and economic governance of the mining sector and the generation
of equitable sharing of benefits, contributing to sustainable development
when progressively implemented.
In this context, we would set as the first EU priority on Mining the
Development of Good Governance in the Mining Sector.
The EU wishes that the UN, working together with Governments,
companies and relevant stakeholders, that seek to promote economic,
environmental and social development through investment in the
extractive sector, promotes and improves governance through strong
recommendations to Governments to develop and produce guidelines and
best practices covering the Legal, Policy and Institutional Environment,
and the Producer Countries Benefit Maximization in terms of Financial,
3
Economic and Social Benefit Maximization. There is also a need to
improve working and living conditions of miners, as well as, to address the
issue of children working in mines, while protecting livelihoods.
Environment and Natural Resources Management is also a priority issue
for the EU. We consider that more efforts have to be done to increase
resource efficiency and reduce waste generation, notably by increasing
recycling/reuse and improving the design of the products.
The EU also considers that it is fundamental to build the eco-systems
dimension by integrating the promotion of biodiversity conservation goals
into national and regional mineral extraction plans. A guidance document
on mining and preservation of biodiversity has been published by the EU.
As far as mine wastes, surface and ground water protection and energy
consumption minimization are concerned, the EU considers that priority
attention should be given to:
1- Minimizing the waste generated, through modified patterns of
production and consumption contributing to waste prevention, reuse,
recycling and converting waste into products.
2- Increasing recycling and reuse of water and other natural resources,
protecting surface and ground water from contamination and minimizing
the energy used to produce raw materials and derived products.
3- Developing a broad sustainable framework to be applied worldwide to
the initial design of storage facilities, tailings and waste management,
closure, post-closure and remediation of abandoned mine sites in such a
way that they present negligible public health, safety and environmental
risks, and low social and environmental impacts during operation and
post-closure.
As EU?s third priority, we consider the Post Mining Transition Period to
be of the utmost importance. In this regard, we believe that there is a
need for Governments:
- to provide legal and regulatory frameworks for closure;
4
- to have the institutional capacity to monitor and enforce their
provisions;
- to require that stakeholders be consulted in the development of
closure objectives and plans;
- to ensure that a comprehensive closure report and adequate
financial assurance be provided before the requisite
development and mining permits for a new mine are approved.
On the other hand, there is also a need for the development of effective
and efficient approaches to the funding of closure.
Finally, we believe it is necessary to focus on the legacies of the past in the
form of abandoned and orphan sites of minerals related activity, including
their waste facilities.
The Fourth EU Priority on Mining concerns the Informal and formal
Artisanal and Small-scale Mining. In this regard, we find it most
important that informal artisanal and small-scale mining operates
according to basic environmental and social standards. Ultimately, policies
and development programs are needed to allow for the
professionalization and formalization of these activities. Health and
educational needs of children in Artisanal and Small-scale Mine
environments deserve special attention.
It is equally important to promote and support the formal artisanal and
small-scale mine sector. Policies and regulations need to be drafted in
order to ensure that formal artisanal and small-scale miners are regarded
and treated as official members of the national mining industry.
Finally, Markets Transparency in the International Mineral Trade is what
the EU would elect as the fifth priority in terms of a more sustainable
agenda for the mining sector.
In this context, the EU deems that it is necessary:
5
- An improvement of knowledge of the fundamental changes in
the global markets that are threatening the principles of
competitiveness.
- Promotion of transparency to avoid measures that distort
international trade in raw materials.
- Ensuring access to raw materials from international markets
under best possible conditions for all competitors, through
enhanced dialogue between producers and consumers. The
specific interests of Least Developed Countries should be taken
into account in this dialogue.
Thank you.
6
Annex
Background and detailed position of the EU and its Member States
Minerals and metals are essential for modern living. Access to and affordability of mineral raw
materials are crucial for the sound and sustainable functioning of the world economy and
modern societies. Mine operations, when properly managed, also have an enormous potential
to create, contribute to and support sustainable development of communities as they can create
opportunities for growth and development through: enhanced revenue derived taxes and
royalties; job creation; knowledge, skills and technology transfers; provision of infrastructure and
social services (including health, water supply, and education); Mining operations can also
foster clusters of lateral, up and downstream linkages; and SME development to provide goods
and services for the mining industry.
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. The access to specific
rare or energy consuming raw materials will be more and more limited in the future. Therefore
we have to use raw materials with care by minimising the waste generated, increasing recycling
and reuse of resources and by designing products using less resources and with an increased
life time.
In the 21st century, mining mineral extractive industries can and will continue to be a
fundamental sector for sustainable development and poverty eradication. Therefore, an
integrated and holistic approach is necessary in the mining sector to address the above
mentioned challenges.
EU ? priorities, desired outcomes
Having regard to the objectives of Agenda 21, the targets and timetables of the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; EU?s Raw Materials Initiative (RMI), the
European Union's Strategy for jobs and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth (also
known as Europe 2020 Strategy) including the overall objective of sustainable use of
natural resources; the current ongoing work on raw materials, competitiveness,
development issues, resource-efficiency; the Chair Summary Parts I & II (advanced
unedited text) of CSD-18 and the Report of the Secretary-General for CSD-19 - Policy
options and actions for expediting progress in Implementation: Mining;
Taking into account that many delegations stated at the review session that CSD19
policy decisions should include a number of actions to promote sustainable
development and management of mining activities which would benefit from
international cooperation;
Noting that such measures should be aimed at: strengthening governance,
transparency, and public accountability; building technical and managerial capacities;
developing new mining technology; promoting investment and technology transfer;
ensuring rehabilitation and benefit sharing.
The EU would like to share the following priorities with CSD 19 delegates, which are ? in our
view - required for good environmental, social and economic governance of the mining sector
and the generation of equitable sharing of benefits, contributing to sustainable development
when progressively implemented.
First EU priority on Mining
Development of Good Governance in the Mining Sector
7
1.1. Legal, Policy and Institutional Environment
Governments require a broad set of laws, policies, regulations and guidelines to manage social
and environmental risks and impacts, to maximize social and economic benefits from mining
activities and to enhance development opportunities related to mining investment., Institutional
capacity is a prerequisite for the responsible management of natural resources and good
governance in the mining sector.
Taking that into account, the EU wishes that the UN, working together with Governments,
companies and relevant stakeholders that seek to promote economic, environmental and social
development through investment in the extractive sector, develops and produces guidelines
and best practices covering:
? Modern legal and policy environments [national mineral policies, mining and waste
codes, contract law (including arbitration), financial codes and taxation regimes, policies
that favour/support local entrepreneurship, etc].
? Mechanisms to promote administrative capacity building in order to support the
development of weak national institutions with poor legal, technical and financial
abilities.
? Mechanisms to foster domestic accountability.
? Mechanisms to promote the creation of national appropriate knowledge bases on
mineral resources (geological surveys, universities, etc.) for strategic thinking and policy
innovations.
and promotes improved governance through strong recommendations to Governments
to:
? Encourage extractive sector companies and civil society to consider participation in the
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), certification initiatives and other
relevant self-regulation that can contribute to sustainable development and poverty
eradication.
? Adhere to or ratify relevant international treaties and conventions, including international
instruments specific to mining (ILO Convention n.º 176 on Safety and Health in Mines to
enhance the health & safety performance of mining in general).
1.2. Producing Countries Benefit Maximization
The EU wishes that the UN, working together with Governments and companies,
develops and produces guidelines and best practices covering:
1.2.1 Financial Benefit Maximization
It is essential that the mining industry contributes materially through rents, royalties and
other transparent forms of payments avoiding transfer pricing and tax evasion, for an
equitable revenue distribution between Companies and States. Promotion of domestic
resource mobilisation is one of the objectives of the Seoul G20 agenda. In this perspective,
strengthening mining tax regimes and fiscal policies to provide a sustainable revenue base
to inclusive growth is essential
In fact, mining activities only contribute to sustainable development if they generate
appropriate and equitable revenues for producing countries. Sound and balanced fiscal
regimes as well as good financial governance are necessary in order to guarantee long
term benefits. Furthermore, the mining industry should ensure that it creates opportunities
for local participation and contributes to local revenue distribution.
Taking this into account, the UN, working together with Governments, companies and the
civil society should develop and produce guidelines and best practices covering
mechanisms to promote effective deployment of resource rents and support financial
administration capacity building.
8
1.2.2. Economic Benefit Maximization
A modern, efficient and high efficacy mine, able to maximize the economic benefits of the
exploitation of an ore body for all the stakeholders, needs to adopt the most adequate
knowledge and technology, use the best practices and be managed with modern
techniques. It is important to promote industry exchange of experiences; encourage the
adoption of new management techniques; promote broad-based capacities especially in
science and technology; and adopt new and emerging technologies, to better harness
natural resource wealth to support growth and promote sustainable development. It is also
important to develop infrastructure, local skills, knowledge and information as they are vital
to improve sustainable extractive industries production and improve the livelihoods of local
communities affected by mining operations.
1.2.3. Social Benefit Maximization
Mining companies are increasingly adopting holistic corporate social responsibility charters
and development approaches that have a better potential to significantly uplift and
empower local communities.
? Policy decisions should:
Bear in mind the need to respect and promote human rights? protection.
Support Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) undertakings.
Include benefit distribution policies and guiding tools to improve revenue
distribution, balancing and managing conflicting local and national-level
interests, ensuring that a reasonable share of mining revenues goes to those
communities close to and disproportionately affected by mining operations.
Contain regulatory frameworks to facilitate and support equitable participation
by local businesses, communities, women and other stakeholders in mining
activities.
Second EU Priority on Mining
Environment and Natural Resources Management
More efforts are to be done to increase resource efficiency and reduce waste, notably by
increasing recycling/reuse and improving the design of the products.
It is fundamental to:
2.1. On the eco-systems dimension & biodiversity
? Build the eco-systems dimension, integrating the promotion of biodiversity
conservation goals in national mineral extraction plans. A guidance document on
mining and preservation of biodiversity has been published by the EU.
2.2. On mine wastes, surface and ground water protection and energy consumption
minimization
Minimise the waste generated, through modified patterns of production and
consumption contributing to waste prevention, reuse, recycling and converting
waste into products.
Increase recycling and reuse of water and other natural resources, protect surface
and ground water from contamination and minimize the energy used to produce
raw materials and derived products.
Develop a broad sustainable framework to be applied worldwide to the initial
design of storage facilities, tailings and waste management, closure, post-closure
and remediation of abandoned mine sites in such a way that they present
negligible public health, safety and environmental risks, and low social and
environmental impacts during operation and post-closure. The EU, has drafted
9
such a framework with the participation of the stakeholders including the mining
sector. It serves as a reference for issuing permits in the EU and covers all
extractive industries.
Third EU Priority on Mining
Post Mining Transition
? There is a need for Governments to: i) provide legal and regulatory frameworks for closure;
ii) have the institutional capacity to monitor and enforce their provisions; iii) require that
stakeholders be consulted in the development of closure objectives and plans; iv) require
that a comprehensive closure report and adequate financial assurance are provided before
the requisite development and mining permits for a new mine are approved.
? There is a need for development of effective and efficient approaches to the funding of
closure.
? It is necessary to focus on the legacies of the past in the form of abandoned and orphan
sites of minerals related activity, including their waste facilities.
Fourth EU Priority on Mining
Informal and Formal Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM)
It is important that informal artisanal and small-scale mining operates according to basic
environmental and social standards. Ultimately, policies and development programs are needed
to allow for the professionalization and formalization of these activities. Health and educational
needs of children in ASM environments deserve special attention.
It is equally important to promote and support the formal ASM sector. Policies and regulations
need to be drafted in order to ensure that formal artisanal and small-scale miners are regarded
and treated as official members of the national mining industry.
This would include support for, inter alia, the Association for Responsible Mining and the
international initiative Communities and small-scale Mining (CASM). This applies equally to the
G8 pilot project ?Certified Trading Chains (CTC) in Mineral Production as well as the OECD
implementation phase of the due diligence guidance for responsible supply chains of minerals
from conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
Fifth EU Priority on Mining
Markets Transparency in the International Mineral Trade
Improve knowledge of the fundamental changes in the global markets threatening the principles
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 specific interests of Least Developed Countries should be taken into account in this
dialogue.