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Summary

The Inaugural European Raw Materials Conference took place on the 1st March 2011 and brought together 250+ delegates for some very stimulating and interesting discussions around Europe’s political and practical responses to the threats associated with the global race for raw materials.

All participants should now have received electronic copies of all presentations used at the event. If you attended the event, and have not received this yet, please get in touch with Kirstie Fagan on +44 2920 783 026 or kirstie.fagan@forum-europe.com

If you were not able to attend this event but are interested in purchasing the proceedings, including the speaker presentations and a full audio recording, they are available for €100 + VAT. Please email kirstie.fagan@forum-europe.com for further details.

Photos from the event are now available...please scroll below for link

Speakers include

Rufus Yerxa

Deputy Director-General

World Trade Organisation

Frank Hoffmeister

Deputy Head of Cabinet, Commissioner de Gucht

European Commission

Teresa Presas

Chair

Alliance for a Competitive European Industry

Ambassador Ali Mchumo

Managing Director

Common Fund for Commodities

Daniel Caspary MEP

Member

European Parliament

Mogens Peter Carl

Senior Advisor

Kreab Gavin Anderson

Christian Hagelüken

Head of Business Development & Market Research, Precious Metals Refining Unit

Umicore

Reinhard Bütikofer MEP

Member

European Parliament

Kevin Bradley

President

The Nickel Institute

Bogdan Baltazar

Financial Consultant

Context

For event photos please click here

In November 2008, the European Commission adopted the Raw Materials Initiative, proposing an integrated EU strategy to address challenges related to access to essential non-energy raw materials. Now more than 2 years on, a communication relating to the progress of the initiative has been released, focusing on its implementation, and progress made and challenges faced.                                                                                                                                                                      

Availability of essential non-energy raw materials of at competitive prices is fundamental to the full range of European industries, from the manufacturing of vehicles, the production of mobile phones, through to the construction and paper industries to name but a few. With export restrictions from supply countries on the increase, will a rise in protectionism, driven by the global financial crisis and shortages in rare earths and other minerals, spark international confrontations? Have responses from international bodies such as the WTO been sufficient? Does Europe have viable alternative sources for raw materials and should foreign ownership of mining companies for instance be treated as a threat by Europe and its trading partners such as Canada?

What measures are ultimately necessary to ensure a secure, low-cost supply of essential raw materials for Europe, whilst keeping sight of the EU’s commitment to sustainability?

The event looked at these questions and more, with sessions focusing on:

- Overcoming increasing pressures on the planet’s key resources

- Balancing sustainability and access to key resources

- How to head–off the possibility of global “resource wars?”