Brussels, 11/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg on Monday 9 March, MEPs in the European Parliament's development committee called for binding legislation to stamp out armed groups being financed through the trade of minerals and metals from conflict areas. They adopted an opinion on this by a large majority (23 in favour, 2 against and no abstentions).
In order to stem the import of these conflict minerals (or blood minerals) into the European Union, the MEPs do not accept the voluntary system proposed by the European Commission in its draft regulation on a self-certification system for importers of tantalum, tungsten or gold from conflict or high risk areas (see EUROPE 11251 and 11032).
The MEPs want the system (which will oblige the companies concerned to exercise due diligence in monitoring and administering their purchases and sales) to be applied to all EU importers and to guarantee transparency and traceability at all stages of the supply chain, and use, of the conflict minerals or metals. A flexible procedure would be provided for SMEs.
The MEPs also want the future regulation to set out the obligations of all importers and they want the certification of “responsible” importers (those who respect their duty of diligence) to be produced by the competent national authority of the member state concerned.
“My goal was to disconnect mineral extraction and trade from the financing of conflicts and armed groups”, said rapporteur Bogdan Brunon Wenta (EPP, Poland), hailing the adoption of the opinion as “a huge success”.
The stakes are high because blood minerals and metals are found in mobile phones, computers, fridges and washing machines in Europe. Seb Dance (S&D, UK) said that many consumers would be horrified if they knew how some of these minerals are produced and from where they come. He said he was not blaming the consumer but wanted to clean up the supply chains so that EU consumers and companies might all know that they are not feeding a bloody war in some hidden corner of the world.
The opinion adopted by the MEPs in the development committee was a compromise between all the political groups, and the Parliament's international trade committee, which is heading this issue, is now asked to take account of it when it gives its judgment of the draft regulation on 13-14 April. The vote in the plenary session is planned for May. (Aminata Niang)