The European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials held its High level Conference in Brussels on January 13, at which it presented a comprehensive overview of developments in the raw materials sector.
Outlining some of these developments in his address at the conference, EuroGeoSurvey Vice President Koen Verbruggen presented some European projects that aim to strengthen Europe’s raw materials knowledge base. In particular, he outlined the ProMine project, in which the Geological Survey of Finland coordinates 27 partners from 11 EU Member States in an effort to ensure that all potential mineral resources within the EU are fully documented in a GIS-based resource assessment and modelling system.
He also noted the EURARE project, which is running from 2013 to 2018 and will characterise European rare earth element (REE) resources and develop new ore beneficiation technologies, with the overarching aim of safeguarding the EU’s supply of REE raw materials.
The importance of recycling of raw material was also highlighted at the event. Janez Potočnik, Co-Chair of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) International Resource Panel, called on the European Union to improve its recycling performance. Citing the example of Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE), he noted that only 30% of WEEE in Europe is properly recycled, and that less than 1% of the critical raw material contained in this 30% is recovered. He stressed that, to improve this performance, it will be necessary to strengthen long-term strategic thinking and policy making and translate commitments from political statements into reality.
Following the adoption of the EIP on Raw Materials Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) in September 2013, the EIP achieved a milestone in April 2014 with the announcement of a first set of commitments by over 800 companies, public agencies, research institutes, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders from all over Europe. These partners have all committed to contribute in one way or the other to fostering technological and non-technological innovation in Europe’s raw materials value chains.
The high level conference served as a platform to discuss developments with regard to ongoing commitments as well as an occasion for networking to discuss experience and possible future commitments.