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secure supply of mineral raw materials for European industry is absolutely
necessary to secure Europe’s prosperity and improve the quality of life of
European citizens. In the last decade a structural change has taken place in
global mineral markets. The old rule of thumb – 20 percent of the world
population in Europe, USA and Japan consuming more than 80 percent of the total
minerals production – is not valid any more1. With
the integration of India, the People’s Republic of China and other populous
emerging countries like Brazil and Russia into the world economy, today more
than half of the world’s population claims an increasing share in raw
materials.
Thus the global demand for raw materials stands at the bottom of a new growth curve. The "Integrated Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Era, Putting Competitiveness and Sustainability at Centre Stage"2 Communication sets out a strategy that aims to boost growth and jobs by maintaining and supporting a strong, diversified and competitive industrial base in Europe. The core message of the Communication is that industry must be placed centre stage if Europe is to remain a global economic leader.
Recent European initiatives have pioneered the development of an EU strategy on raw materials emphasizing the concept of the “added value chain”, pursuing the three pillar strategy to: (1) ensure the fair and sustainable supply of raw materials from international markets, promoting international cooperation with developed and developing countries; (2) foster sustainable supply of raw materials from European sources, and (3) reduce consumption of primary raw materials by increasing resource efficiency and promoting recycling.