|
Raw Materials Initiative
In November 2008 the European Commission published its new Communication “The raw materials initiative — meeting our critical needs for growth and jobs in Europe”.
Following its previous analysis of the competitiveness of the sector DG Enterprise and the political and economic developments around the world at the beginning of 2008 the EU realized that it needed to address this very important issue at highest level in order ensure security of raw material supply for its economic growth.
The industry of course welcomed this Initiative whole heartedly since in the past years a whole array of legislative measures and the lack of public awareness in Europe had made access to raw materials for the extractive industry as well as for the downstream industry more and more difficult and at the best of times time consuming.
Raw materials are essential for the sustainable functioning of all societies, equally so for the EU. Securing reliable and undistorted access to raw materials is increasingly becoming an important factor for the EU’s competitiveness and, hence, crucial to the success of the Lisbon Partnership for growth and jobs. Hence three policy areas were identified:
- Access to raw materials on world markets at undistorted conditions
- Sustainable supply of raw materials from European sources
- Increase of resource efficiency and promotion of recycling
As had been laid out in the Commission’s report on the competitiveness of the sector the issues of access to these resources were manifold and varied from sub-sector to sub-sector.
Although some, not all EU Member States were and are pursuing specific policies, there had so far been no integrated policy response at EU to secure sufficient access to raw materials at competitive prices. The Commission therefore proposed in its Communication that the EU should agree on an integrated raw materials strategy. The whole Communication has three main chapters: 1. Analysis of supply and demand of non-energy raw materials; 2. The policy response: An integrated strategy and 3. The way forward.
Downloads (PDF):
|
|
Did you know?
- In the making of a mobile phone 40 different raw materials are used, like lithium, tantalum, cobalt and antimony, all of them more and more difficult to get. A computer or television screen contains the same metals.
- A computer consists of about 60 raw materials, some of which are not to be found in Europe.
“High-tech materials” applications
Download figure >>
Trade Issues
Some facts and figures about non-energy raw materials
- There are over 450 export restrictions on more than 400 different raw materials (e.g. metals).
- For many essential raw materials extraction is concentrated in a limited number of countries. China produces 95% of all rare earth concentrates (needed for hand-held consumer electronics, LCD’s, high performance magnets), Brazil 90% of all niobium (needed for steel alloys in gas pipelines, super alloys in high performance jet aircrafts) and South Africa produces 79% of all rhodium (needed for car catalysts).
- Important raw materials sources are increasingly located in parts of the world which lack political and economic stability. Over 50% of major reserves are located in countries with a per capita gross national income $10 per day or less.
- EU industries rely heavily on secondary raw materials. As examples, recycled aggregates may substitute 10-20% of primary aggregates, while the use of recycled scrap has increased significantly in recent decades and now represents 40% to 60% of input to EU metal production.
Source: COM(2008) 699 The raw materials initiative – meeting our critical needs for growth and jobs in Europe |
|
|
