Case: Policy coherence in general

16-10-2009 How coherent is the EU in the 'race for raw materials'? Find out on the 17th of November!

On the 17th of November 2009 Fair Politics is organising an Expert Meeting in the European Parliament on the Raw Materials Initiative. Because of the potential strong effects of this strategy paper on developing countries and incoherencies with EU development policies and commitment, we feel it is important to create awareness and debate on the issue with both our new case study and this meeting.

Expert Meeting on the Raw Materials Initiative and PCD

Date              17th of November 2009
Time              10:00 - 12:30
Location        European Parliament, Room PHS P7C050

 

Background
In November 2008 the Raw Materials Initiative was launched by the European Commission. The first and most important pillar of the Raw Materials Initiative outlines a strategy to secure the supply of raw materials from third countries to the European market and in particular those critical to European industry, as are often found in African countries. It speaks of eliminating threats to the European industrys global competitiveness, such as export  restrictions, restrictive Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policies and corporate taxation.

With this EU strategy developing countries risk limitations to their sovereignty over, and control of, the exploitation and outflow of their own resources. Instead Fair Politics believes it is important to ensure that they have space for their own development and industrial policies, in order to have a chance to develop downstream industries and move up the value chain. The strategy in its current form conflicts sharply with EU development policy objectives, and with the obligation, deriving from the EC treaty, to take development interests into account in all other policy areas that might affect those countries.  Fair Politics urges for close involvement of all different stakeholders and strong coordination with DG development in order to prevent the RMI from being developed into a strategy only in favour of European industries and instead ensure its coherence with and contributions to development objectives. EU support to developing countries capacity to diversify their economies and negotiate pro-development contracts with foreign companies, as well as transparency legislation, are issues to be addressed.

The Expert Meeting
In order to address this issue and create awareness and debate on the Initiative to prevent it from being developed into an aggressive strategy in favour of European industries, we bring together policy makers from the European Commission, European Parliament Members, civil society, representatives from the extractives industry and experts from both Europe and the developing countries involved. Different aspects of the RMI, as well as the raw materials sector and development perspectives will be discussed. Besides a debate on how to ensure Policy Coherence for Development within this strategy paper, Fair Politics will present its case study with concrete policy recommendations to the participants of the meeting.

The meeting will be chaired by Thijs Berman (S&D) and Fiona Hall (ALDE).

Speakers include Jan Cappelle (IPIS & Fatal Transactions), Claude Kabemba (SarWatch-Johannesburg), Representatives of DG Trade, DG Development and DG Industry and Entreprise, as well as from BUSINESSEUROPE. MEPs, in particular those from the committees DEVE, INTA and ITRE, are also welcome to give a reaction.

The preliminary programme includes the following rounds of discussion:
1. The Raw Materials Initiative 
2. The RMI seen from a Development perspective
3. The way forward: Policy Coherence for Development

Click here for the final programme of the meeting.

Sign up
If you are interested in joining the meeting and want to sign up, please send an email to bvpaassen@evertvermeer.nl. Please note that if you need accreditation in order to gain access to the European Parliament, you will need to provide us with your full name, date of birth and place of residence before November 10th. 

Keep an eye on our website for possible additional information and we hope to see you on the 17th!