Photo by Sharon Pittaway on Unsplash
Members of the European Parliament have approved the Parliament’s negotiations mandate for the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).
Some MEPs, notably the Greens/EFA Group, had pushed for a 45 percent recycling target and for mitigating the demand for critical raw materials.
The EU Commission’s legislative proposal has several aims:
- to identify strategic projects and their implementation in the field of critical raw materials.
- create strategic reserves.
- promote recycling of these materials and
- encourage private investment.
In the upcoming negotiations, the Greens/EFA Group say they will particularly advocate for the rights of indigenous people, the protection of Natura 2000 sites and high recycling standards.
Comment came from Sara Matthieu MEP, Greens/EFA shadow rapporteur on the Critical Raw Materials Act in the Environment committee.
She said, “The proposal for a European Critical Raw Materials Act aims to set standards for the mining and consumption of critical raw materials, recognising our dependence on these raw materials as well as our planetary limits.”
“We cannot endlessly dig for resources without a long-term plan or consideration for people and the planet. Every new mine creates irreparable wounds to the land so the need for a rigorous review process is still great. The Critical Raw Materials Act does not impact the legislation already put in place to safeguard environmental and social interests.”
“The Greens/EFA Group has pushed for critical raw materials to be recycled and become part of the circular economy.”
“Less critical raw materials should be consumed in the future and mining of critical raw materials in protected areas must remain a taboo. In the European Parliament’s position, the Greens/EFA Group has successfully advocated for environmental and social criteria, to limit mining activities in protected areas and to safeguard the lands and rights of indigenous people.”
