The intervention of the representative of the National Trade Union Confederation MERIDAN on the European Economic and Social Committee at the Plenary Session Meeting

Brussels, 31 May 2007

Speach duration: 3 min. 30 sec.

Mr. Vice – President Verheugen,

My name is Fornea Dumitru, I’am Romanian, and  I represent here, in this Committee, the National Trade Union Confederation MERIDIAN , a representative trade union organization in Romania.

I wish to use this opportunity to thank you on behalf of our members for the efforts that you have been undertaking during your mandate like Enlargment Commissioner in the period 1999 – 2004, when your activity consolidated the path of European accession for the candidates countries from the Eastern Europe. Today, in Romania, we still remember you, like a good friend, and as an honorable negotiation partner.

One of the main concerns of our confederation which I wish to share with you,  using this ocassion, is about the future of the metal mining industry in European Union.

In Romania, The National Trade Union Confederation MERIDIAN organized in April of this year, in partnership with Euromines and the Committee for Industry and Services of the Chamber of Deputies from the Romanian Parliament a conference with the title: „ The Economic and Social Coordinates of the Romanian Mining in European Context „.

At this event, two issues were debated in depth by the Romanian and other European participants:

• First, solidarity between member states of the European Union and the security of raw materials for energy production 

• And, secondly, an interesting discusssion on the challenges and trends of the metal mining industry in Europe

On this latter point, the representatives of  the mining trade unions organizations and those representing Euromines agreed on following:

Today, 70 % of European manufacturing industry depends on extracted substances, in the conditions in what, in  E.U. 27,  we are facing now a large scale restructuring process of the mining industry and the price of the metals on the global market are growing day by day.

In spite of the fact that not many Europeans like to hear about mining, in future, the sustainable growth of Europe will heavily depend on locally extracted substances, in the conditions in what,  the high demand for minerals coming from China and India will  have, a real potential to affect the security of supply for the European Union. ( Here one have  to see how the Chinese develop their foreign policy in african countries and in countries from Latin America )

Important mineral resources are available in the Eastern European Countries where the geological structure always made possible the development of the mining activities.

The European Union must keep the pace with the new technologies available for this industry and for this, must develop European R& D. programmes for the mining sector.  

In Eastern Europe, the sector was underfunded by the state, so the situation today dosen’t show the real potential of the mining industry. Now, taking into account the order in which we are living, it seems to be very necessary to have private capital invested in the mining companies to supply the financial resources which up to now was provided mostly by state.

Strong demand is foreseen for precious metals in future ( companies like Nokia, Siemens, space industry, power facilities, and other high technology companies, needs more and more metals like: copper, nickel, silver, gold, etc ).  

The demand for primary metals will continue to increase as globalisation expands manufacturing capability. Pressures to innovate in manufacture and distribution will also intensify as will requirements to respect the environment and provide acceptable standards of helth, safety and welfare.

These were the main conclusions at the conference.

Now, knowing the fact that in order to tackle the climat change and to achieve sustainable development we will need technologies, and for technologies, we will need metals,  like a very new citizen of European Union, I would like to know from you Sir, if the  European Union, has a long term strategy on mining industry in general and on metal mining sector in particular, and, if  the European Commission considers that the demand for metals from China and India can be a real menace for the security of supply with this mineral resources and if  in the future, this demand will make less affordable for european industry, the aquisition of this comodities from the global market.   

Thank you

Related documents: 

• The Information Paper of the VP Verheugen : " Securing raw material supply for EU industries, Brussels, 5 June 2007;

• Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on Risk and problems associated with the supply of raw materials to European industry, Brussels, 5 July 2006.