Brussels, 10/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament, with its adoption of a joint resolution from six political groups (488 votes to 48, with 57 abstentions) on 5 May, considered that compliance with the EU's objectives under the Water Framework Directive, namely to achieve good chemical status for water resources and to protect water resources and biological diversity, can only be achieved by banning cyanide mining technology. Cyanide is an extremely toxic chemical substance used in the gold mining industry. MEPs pointed out that alternatives to cyanide mining exist and should be used.
The EP stated that 10 years ago, more than 100 000 cubic metres of cyanide-contaminated water were released from a gold-mine reservoir into the Tisza-Danube River system and caused the largest ecological disaster in the history of central Europe at that time. The EU toughened its legislation, but without banning the use of cyanide. The EP expressed its concern that “several EU member states” are still considering new projects for large-scale open-cast gold mines using cyanide technologies in densely inhabited areas, projects “which pose further potential threats to human health and the environment”.
The EP calls on the Commission to: - propose a complete ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies in the European Union before the end of 2011, since this is “the only safe way to protect our water resources and ecosystems against cyanide pollution from mining activities” - the Commission and the member states are asked not to support any mining projects in the EU that involve cyanide technology until the general ban is applicable, nor to support any such projects in third countries; - encourage industrial reconversion of the areas where cyanide mining was banned, through appropriate financial support for alternative green industries, renewable energy and tourism; - propose an amendment to existing legislation on the management of waste from the extractive industries requiring every operating company to take out insurance to cover compensation for damage and all remedial costs incurred in restoring a site to its original ecological and chemical status in the event of an accident or malfunction. (L.C./transl.rt)