【Brussels, Be】European Union Reaches Agreement to Regulate ‘Conflict Minerals’ Trade

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Editor’s Note

This article reports on a new EU agreement to regulate the import of conflict minerals, a significant step toward curbing the financing of armed conflicts through supply chains.

Un homme montre un diamant provenant de la région de Boda, en vente à Bangui, Centrafrique, le 1er mai 2014.
EU Reaches Landmark Agreement

After a year of negotiations, the European Union’s institutions have reached an agreement to regulate the import of “conflict minerals,” which help finance armed conflicts in Africa.

The future European regulation will be binding for EU importing companies at the beginning of the production chain, including smelters and refineries. Only companies importing small volumes will be exempt.

According to the agreement reached between the Commission, member states, and the European Parliament, these companies will have to ensure and guarantee that there is no link between their supply chain and armed conflicts.

Targeted Minerals and Their Origins

The targeted minerals – tungsten, tin, tantalum, and gold – are essential for the production of everyday items such as mobile phones, computers, refrigerators, and light bulbs. They are mainly imported from Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes region, where armed groups are fighting for control of mines.

“The EU is committed to preventing the international trade in minerals from financing warlords, criminals, and those who violate human rights,” said Lilianne Ploumen, the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Union.

The European Parliament had called for binding legislation to prevent the import of “conflict minerals.”

“The Parliament’s negotiators can proudly defend the progress made since the initial proposals from the Commission and the Council, both of which defended the naive idea of a voluntary approach,” welcomed Socialist MEP Marie Arena.
Voluntary Measures and Future Review

In addition, the Commission will implement a series of voluntary measures, including audit tools, for companies at the end of the chain that use the minerals as components in the products they manufacture.

A review clause provides for imposing the same binding rules on them as on importers, smelters, and refineries located upstream in the supply chain, if they do not show good faith after two years, the Socialist group in the European Parliament highlighted.

“It is essential that European rules do not apply only to a limited number of companies that import minerals but also target other companies in the supply chain, so that final consumer products like tablets and phones are also covered,” expressed concern Greens/EFA MEP Yannick Jadot, while welcoming the progress made.

Final adoption of the measures is expected in the coming months.

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⏰ Published on: June 16, 2016