Dinner Debate on Sustainable Industrial Renaissance -The role of raw materials
On the 24th of September 2014, MEP Paul Rübig hosted a dinner debate in cooperation with SME Europe and EUROMINES on “Sustainable Industrial Renaissance” at the European Parliament.
In the introduction, Mr. Rübig pointed out that the European Union is still the most important and biggest market in the world. The EU currently still holds 25% of the worldwide production and also about 50% of the social contribution being made in the European internal market. In times of economic and international instability, it is important to have a credible commitment to economic policies. Mr. Rübig drew the attention to energy independence which is, as he described, one of the most important things for a successful and prosper future of the European Union. Furthermore, Mr. Rübig stated that raw materials approximately worth 200 billion Euros are imported to Europe. He underlined that a directive on Europe 2050 would be a possibility to make sure that areas for mining, industry and infrastructure have a secure space to develop.
Followed by the address of Mr. Rübig, the President of Euromines, Mr. Mark Rachovides stated that mining is essential for creating new jobs, investment, growth, and with that, economic prosperity. To achieve these demands, the mining industry is in need of stability and clarity. The political establishment has to enable stable long-term policies and a stable energy market. Therefore, a fruitful environment for scientific progress should be guaranteed as well as a policy that supports the needs of the mining industry. Mr. Rachovides pointed out that the well-being of the mining industry helps to create prosperity for Europe in general.
The next speech was held by Mr. Gwenole Cozigou, Director for Chemicals, Metals, Mechanical, Electrical and Construction Industries, Raw Materials, in the European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG. In general, he emphasized the role of Europe’s high quality production. He mentioned that the only practicable solution is to concentrate on the resource in order to be competitive. He said that the European Union has to stand an urgent challenge. “It is all about the three Keywords: Simplicity, stability and efficiency.” Europe has to be, while shrinking in production, more competitive for the future markets – especially for the Asian markets. He claimed that throughout the past, a part of the European steel production moved away and settled to China. Furthermore, he accentuated once more the need and demand of a stable, common European policy to preserve the domestic production. His secondary lookout aimed about the high level, fundamental knowledge of European science. “Resources are a cost that nobody wants to waste.” It would be an intrinsic failure to think that even one nation could supply its raw material demands by the domestic markets. So as to guarantee Europe’s competiveness on all production markets. We have to invest more in the skills of the next generations.
After the first statements discussions and exchange of points of views happened on the tables representing different European Regions ensued with MEP Franc Bogovic, MEP Adam Gierek, MEP Jusi Halla-Aho, MEP Costas Mavrides, MEP Bogdan Wenta, MEP Olle Ludvigsson and MEP Neoklis Sylikiotis.
Ivana Maletić MEP emphasized that implementation is stacked and that it is essential to find a solution, how to change the environment of mining. Mr. Hristov, from Dundee Precious Metals was convinced that Mining is actually unavoidable. He proposed that existing policies should be corrected.