During the EP plenary session (12 - 15 March 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on conflict minerals. Statements by Bernd LANGE (S&D, DE), Linda McAVAN (S&D, UK) and Cecilia MALMSTRÖM, Member of the EC in charge of Trade.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

LANGE, Bernd (S&D, DE)

MALMSTRÖM, Cecilia (ALDE, SE, EC)

McAVAN, Linda (S&D, UK)

conflict minerals (T)

Conflict minerals: extracts from the debate and illustrative pictures

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/19005391/I152301Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (German), Bernd LANGE (S&amp;D, DE), We have the four most important so called conflict minerals have been put in the foreground which is to say tin, tantulum, tungsten and gold, and they come from regions afflicted by civil war or other burdens, and that is where people including children are forced to extract thes minerals. Anyone with gold jewellry or a smart phone should be certain that the minerals from these don't come from forced labour or conflict zones.

SOUNDBITE (German), Bernd LANGE (S&amp;D, DE), The first step is the legislation and then we got the question of implementation, and we have got to design the legislation in such a way as to eliminate possible loopholes which will allow this sound legislation to be circumvented, and to that extent we want to be sure that we achive the maximum postive effects.

SOUNDBITE (English), Linda McAVAN (S&amp;D, UK), I have been an MEP for almost 20 years, and I have seen many great speakers in this chamber, but the one I think was the one of the most memorable was Dr. Dennis MUKWEGE, who came here in November 2014 and Dr MUKWEGE spoke passionately about his country the Democratic Republic of Congo, and about its enormous mineral wealth. And he made a direct link between the illegal exploitation of that wealth and the appalling abuse of human rights and the violence against women, the rapes and worse of women and girls who he treats in his hospital in Panzi.

SOUNDBITE (English), Linda McAVAN (S&amp;D, UK), SOUNDBITE (English), Linda McAVAN (S&amp;D, UK), We need projects with companies yes, but also with governments, we projects with civil society, with women's organisations. And we need the EU to step up diplomacy, we need to be asking these countries when we have our pollical dialogue what are you doing about due diligence on conflict minerals? And we need to be asking our Member States as well what they are doing to ensure  that this legislation is implemented and the OECD due diligence guide lines are actually effective across the EU.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&#214;M, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, There are a series of actions explicitly set out in the regulation and we are busy finalising them. For instance, the guidance to help companies on the identification of conflict affected and high risk areas and other supply chain risks they should consider in their due diligence process.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&Ouml;M, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, Building these initiatives the Commission will adopt a implementing act establishing a list of global responsible smelters and refiners, and find first indicative non-exhaustive list of conflict affected and high-risk areas from external expertise already next year, which is well advanced ahead of the deadline.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&Ouml;M, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, The measures to support SME's both the honourable rapporteurs mentioned in the oral question, put this. To support SME's in their efforts to implement policies for the responsible sourcing of minerals. So, in January this year, the Commission finalized our study on the support system for SME supply chain due diligence,and on this basis, by the end of next year, the Commission will deliver an online tool designed to help SME's in their due diligence efforts.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&Ouml;M, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, You can see that we have worked a lot since we concluded our common work here. Many strands of work, an integrated approach that can deliver but also inspire similar initiatives in other important markets. Thank you again  for the possibility to discuss this with you.