Activities of Mauri PEKKARINEN related to 2021/2011(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
A European strategy for critical raw materials (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on a European strategy for critical raw materials
Amendments (14)
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. Whereas European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) "emphasises the importance of widening the definition and the paradigm of critical raw materials. Conventionally, critical raw materials have been understood as materials coming mainly from mining sector. This is too narrow scope and limits the growth of green energies. Today, wood-based materials can be efficiently used in much more applications than in the past. From textiles to new lighter and more environmentally friendly battery technologies, this is an area that is advancing with great speed. Bioeconomy has the unique possibilities of adding resilience to the EU economy and geopolitical stability for our continent. Using renewable materials would simultaneously also help mitigate climate change as it allows keeping the fossil emissions in the ground, creating green resilience to fossil sectors";8 8. CCMI/177-EESC-2020
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that CRM sourcing is tied to geographic location, highly dependent on the availability of low-carbon and renewable energy, and at risk of indirect and direct carbon leakage and exposure to unfair competition; notes the favourable circumstances for low-emission and green mining activities in the EU and further explore sourcing possibilities in CRM rich Member States;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to pay attention not only to CRMs but also to the potential criticality of other raw materials needed for the twin transition; underlines that, in addition to specialised minerals, 'commonly produced' minerals, such as copper are also becoming critical as demand for them increases in a carbon neutral society. Notes that copper is also a metal where recycling is efficient but its circulation is very slow in some applications;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls the Commission to recognize that the volume of minerals, metals and materials required to enable transition away from fossil fuels far exceeds current recycling capability, and global mining production targets;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Calls the Commission to recognize that brown field sites (industrial waste dumps and mine tailing dams) often contain discarded CRM’s, REE and other technology minerals & metals. It must therefore encourage the documentation, evaluation, and extraction of the enclosed valuable materials, wherever possible and practicable; underlines the need for improved refining technologies in relevant R&D&I funding mechanisms to unlock this potential;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to create an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on CRMs; highlights that the projects should unlock the unused potential in CRM rich countries where large untapped sources of natural graphite are present;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Commission to acknowledge the high demand of fossil energy in the CRM value chains and address the need for energy transition towards renewable energy in the mining and refining sector;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Calls on the Commission to include EIB and credit guarantees for CRM projects and necessary import credit guarantees to find new tools for risk sharing in the mining sector;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that while smart product design, the reuse of materials, recycled sources and substitution can significantly reduce primary demand, responsible and sustainable sourcing is needed when supply cannot be met; further highlights that the development of recycling can be used to respond to future raw material needs;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Notes the opportunity for the development of battery value chain from the responsible and sustainable sourcing of critical raw materials, such as graphite, cobalt and lithium, from new projects in northern Europe;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Welcomes the Commission’s plan to deploy Earth-observation programmes and remote sensing for resource exploration, operations and post-closure environmental management; points out that in-service regulatory oversight can be enhanced with the use of remote sensing methods;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Underlines the importance of maintaining and further developing expertise and skills in mining and processing technologies in the EU, especially in CRM rich countries where large untapped sources of natural graphite are present; notes that raw materials currently mined in Europe need to be often exported to Asia for refining, as the relevant know-how and technology can be found there, pointing out to many ways dependencies can manifest themselves;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Reiterates its call in its resolution of 25 March 2021 on a new EU-Africa Strategy – a partnership for sustainable and inclusive development8 for fair and sustainable exploitation of CRMs in Africa, which account for 49 % of EU imports from Africa, and; supports the Commission in its endeavours to conclude new CRM partnerships with African countries strengthening the value chain in Africa to be ethically, environmentally and technologically more sustainable and enable EU-support incapacity building; _________________ 8 Texts adopted, P9_TA(2021)0108.