Bernd LANGE (S&amp;D, DE), Chair of the International Trade Committee, Iuliu WINKLER (EPP, RO), rapporteur with Cecilia MALMSTROM, Member of the EC incharge of Trade and Ivan LANCARIC, Ministry of Economy of Slovak Republic&nbsp;express themselves in front of the press on Conflict Minerals Regulation, during the EP plenary session (21-24/11) in Strasbourg.

Strasbourg

Committee on International Trade

press conference

LANGE, Bernd (S&D, DE)

MALMSTRÖM, Cecilia (ALDE, SE, EC)

WINKLER, Iuliu (EPP, RO)

conflict minerals (T)

Final agreement on Conflict Minerals Regulation: extracts from the press conference by Bernd LANGE (S&D, DE), Iuliu WINKLER (EPP, RO), Cecilia MALMSTRÖM and Ivan LANČARIČ

SOUNDBITE (English), Bernd LANGE (S&amp;D, DE), Chairman ITRE, I think that is really a big success for European institutions, we managed to get a new piece of legislation which will really permit to make really big steps on financing armed groups, and stop the violation of human rights on the ground, in the so called conflict areas. This I think, is a clear indication that trade policy is an EU value based policy. So we want to achieve a trade policy for the benefit of the people on the ground in conflict areas.

SOUNDBITE (English), Hermann WINKLER (EPP, DE), rapporteur, Our interest is, and was always foremost the communities and the peoples which are caught in war and conflicts. This has always been our priority. The interest of those people can only be served if we have workable regulation and efficient regulation, and I think this is what the three institutions have agreed.

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&#214;M, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, The real winners are of course the people in the conflict areas, people, especially women and children who suffer tremendously, when the revenues from the treament of these minerals are used to fund war and violation of human rights. But now our policy can allow them to benefit from the trade of their natural resources in a decent way. Properly managed this can strengthen their development.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ivan LAN&#268;ARI&#268;, Ministry of Economy of Slovak Republic , Today&rsquo;s agreement means a tangible result with several winners: trade policy, citizens of conflict affected areas, EU citizen&rsquo;s as well European companies. Let me be more specific now. First our agreement proves that we are determined to prevent armed groups around the world from using trade and minerals to finance their activities and propagate conflict.