Connect with us

Economy

#ConflictMinerals: Member states blocking progress on proposals that would help stop conflict minerals

SHARE:

Published

on

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

mineralsLast year the European Parliament voted in favor of a strong regulation that would help fight trade in conflict minerals, but member states have been looking to weaken the plans. High-level negotiations have gone on behind closed doors in a trialogue process where the regulation is being watered down and rendered almost meaningless to those affected by this bloody trade. If some member states have their way, the EU rules would fall short of measures taken by the US, China and African countries, and undermine the internationally recognized standard of the OECD’s due diligence guidance.

CIDSE, the international alliance of Catholic development organizations, regrets the outcomes of yesterday’s second trialogue meeting (the negotiations between the European Parliament, the European Commission and the 28 EU member states that form the EU Council). The negotiations are falling well short of the demands expressed by many civil society organizations, as well as those of nearly 150 Bishops from around the world.

 Stefan Reinhold, CIDSE’s Advocacy coordinator on conflict minerals, said: The Council has yet to make constructive steps towards an agreement, refusing to move on from its very weak position of December 2015 defending a voluntary regulation. It seems that while a number of EU member states would be willing to move towards a mandatory regulation, a few member states are blocking all progress. And while some voices are calling attention to the need to maintain respect for the OECD standards on due diligence, this is far from assured.

 EU government leaders must realize the impact of watering down the regulation voted by elected EU representatives in the Parliament. Member states should not hide behind closed doors, but contribute to transparent EU law-making and be ready to defend their choices publicly. Many women, children and men in countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia or Myanmar are facing violence, even rape and death in areas surrounding mines, while companies along entire supply chains are not obliged to check whether their products contain conflict minerals. And European citizens cannot have the guarantee that the products they buy and use daily are produced without violating human rights.

 In a public debate in Brussels on 14th of March, Abbot Léonard Santedi, Secretary General of the Congolese Bishops Conference, stated that a voluntary regulation would not be enough to improve the situation of populations living near mine areas. In contrast, the 2010 US Dodd Frank Act has spurred real changes by business actors of all nationalities towards responsible mineral sourcing. “I come here with a cry of suffering from my people, but also a cry of hope. In keeping with its values and respect for human dignity, the European Union has a duty of responsibility, and solidarity. Otherwise it’s the law of the jungle.”

 During the debate, Elmar Brok, President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, shared his conviction that “a binding agreement with limited scope may not be a full moral approach, but it can be a solution”. He said he’s “been around long enough in business and seen too many ‘Volkswagens’ to know that the value of self-control is zero.”

 And Jan Tytgat, Director EU Government Affairs Benelux at Umicore, a business undertaking due diligence in its minerals recycling activities,stated that “A proposal that doesn’t refer to downstream can’t assure customers that phones don’t contain conflict gold. It cuts the problem in parts.Every week we receive questions from downstream customers on the conflict-free nature of our minerals.”

Advertisement

 Negotiators are ignoring EU citizens’ call to action: 1.500 EU citizens to date have joined their voices in this campaign action calling on EU negotiators to “stand up in favor of an ambitious regulation on conflict minerals”. Yesterday, CIDSE joined the Stop Mad Mining network to hand over the petition "Tackling the trade in conflict minerals!" signed by almost 42.000 people, who demand an EU regulation with mandatory due diligence, which meets the OECD standards as a minimum.

The EU discussions stand in stark contrast to recent developments in France, where on 23 March, the National Assembly adopted in second reading a legislative proposal on parent company duty of care that would require large French companies to develop a “vigilance plan” in order to prevent environmental damage and human rights violations connected with their activities, in France as well as within global supply chains. Stefan Reinhold said that “the French have taken an important step towards legislation for due diligence in supply chains - it’s time for EU decision makers to get inspired and move decisively towards adopting a strong regulation that will help put a stop to the scandal of conflict minerals”.

Share this article:

EU Reporter publishes articles from a variety of outside sources which express a wide range of viewpoints. The positions taken in these articles are not necessarily those of EU Reporter.

Trending