Brussels, 14/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - In its first “raw materials scoreboard”, presented on Thursday 14 July, the European Commission emphasised the need to pursue the diversification of sources of supply of raw materials and also improve the environment for production within the EU and support the circular approach.
These are the main conclusions of the study prepared by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) under the responsibility of Culture Commissioner Tibor Navracsics, as part of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on raw materials. The scoreboard presents a wealth of information based on 24 indicators articulated around five major themes (raw materials in the global context, competitiveness and innovation, framework conditions for mining companies, the circular economy and recycling, and environmental and social sustainability). It will be updated every two years.
On the same day, the high-level EIP group met, with Industry Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska in attendance. On the agenda of the meeting was increasing security of supply and supporting investment in the field of raw materials, along with recycling. At the meeting, the group also presented a voluntary “Declaration of Support” for the setting up of a European Investment Platform on Raw Materials and Recycling to support start-ups specialising in extracting raw materials and recycling. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)