Brussels, 30/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - Given the current shortage of raw materials, illustrated by the Chinese restrictions on rare earth exports, the European Commission is preparing a strategy to ensure that EU companies are supplied in the resources vitally needed by high-tech industries. Although the draft strategy will not see light of day before January 2011, it is already giving rise to criticism.
Metals, wood and fuels are the source of economic prosperity in Europe, but supplies of the same are dwindling. Geologists have long warned that a number of natural resources are becoming scarcer and are not being extracted in sufficient quantities. Industry, for its part, is facing the threat of serious production shortfalls. In order to ensure that supply security is maintained, the department under Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani has developed a “raw material initiative” based above all on the recycling of metals present in electrical and electronic scrap, support of businesses operating in the extraction of raw materials with loans and guarantees, and cooperation between geologists of European and developing countries, as well as between European geologists, in order to ensure there is a better understanding of Europe's mineral own resources. The EU is said to have €100 billion worth of resources that remain unexploited. It would be necessary to assess this figure using satellite technology. Launched in 2009, the Promine project for research into alternative solutions for imports of metals and minerals into Europe and for incentives to the extracting industry could receive funding for projects on advanced subterranean technologies for the “smart” exploitation of mines, or substitution of vital raw materials such as rare earth and metals of the platinum group. Finally, the strategy comprises an external dimension based on strengthened links with supplier third countries but also on a dispute settlement mechanism to combat obstacles to the trade in resources. The Commission recommends talks with South America, Canada and India and dialogue with China, Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Azerbaijan. With Africa, the European executive arm goes further still by proposing a partnership to translate wealth in own resources into sustainable growth.
The strategy which, after several hold-ups, should be published in January 2011, is already under fire from criticism from, inter alia, the rapporteur of the European Parliament, Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens). The German MEP considers that the “most important elements are missing”, such as the effort to be made for efficient use of natural resources, and for such resources to be used more economically - something Japan has made this a priority in its raw material strategy. Bütikofer takes the view, too, that the strategy contains few elements for helping to deal with the current shortfall in metals used for high-tech products. (E.H./transl.jl)