Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-03-31-Speech-3-212"
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"en.20040331.7.3-212"2
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".
Mr President, this is an interesting debate, because we are discussing a report of the World Bank. The Extractive Industries Review launched by the World Bank Group in 2001 will guide the Bank’s involvement in the oil, gas and mining sectors. The consultative process is a significant element of the Group’s overall review of its activities in this area.
Climate change remains one of the most significant environmental concerns for the Union. The Union remains fully committed, for example, to delivering on the Kyoto Protocol target. As parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and ratifiers of the Kyoto Protocol, the European Community and its Member States are eager to ensure that the activities of the World Bank are in harmony with the European Union’s objective of stabilising greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere at safe levels.
According to the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global emissions of greenhouse gases will need to be drastically cut over the rest of this century if this goal is to be achieved. The recommendations of the Extractive Industries Review in this regard are consistent with a recognised need to move to less carbon-intensive sources of energy. The promotion of cleaner and less greenhouse-gas-emitting energy sources in developing countries, with a particular focus on the promotion of renewable sources of energy, are in keeping with meeting the objectives of the EU’s long-term climate change objectives.
In conclusion, we look forward to the response of the World Bank to this review. As I said, the response is still forthcoming. We welcome the wide-ranging and transparent nature of the consultation involved in this process and appreciate that the work now under way by the Bank is well informed by Dr Salim's report. The European Union’s progressive approach to sustainable development is well known, and we also anticipate a response from the World Bank that will be consistent with its overall mission, in particular in poverty reduction and the promotion of sustainable development.
It is important to note that the result of this initiative – in the form of the comprehensive consultation report produced by the review team, led by Dr Salim – is being examined by the World Bank, and its response to that review is awaited. So in a sense, we are discussing something that is a work in progress. The process must be allowed to take its course in view of the significant recommendations in the review.
The importance of protecting and managing the resource base of economic and social development was reaffirmed by Heads of State and Government at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September 2002. Raw materials, such as minerals and petroleum, provide the foundations for economic growth and well-being, both in industry and in our everyday lives. They are essential in manufacturing, transport, heating and other activities and, most important of all, they are essential in the countries in which the extractive activity takes place.
While mineral extraction makes a substantial contribution to economic development, the benefits must be balanced by measures to foster the environmental and social pillars of sustainable development through good governance. This is the area most Members will probably be concerned about, because good governance has not always been present. In recognition of the need to balance these demands, actions were agreed in relation to managing the natural resource base in a sustainable and integrated manner.
The World Bank is not alone in recognising the need to address all elements of sustainable development. In many ways this review parallels work carried out by the European Union in recent years, such as strengthening the governance of mining through, for example, amendment of the Seveso Directive and a proposed new directive on the management of extractive industry waste – an issue that is of concern right across the Union. The European Union is also taking forward policy on sustainable development through initiatives such as the planned Thematic Strategy on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources. At its meeting on 2 March, the Council of Environment Ministers gave broad policy orientations in relation to the future development of the Thematic Strategy.
The Extractive Industry Review recognises the potential contribution of mining and petroleum to the World Bank’s primary mandate – i.e. the alleviation of poverty – and proposes a considerable number of measures in this regard. They merit some detailed consideration.
I note also that the World Bank has endorsed the Transparency Initiative launched at the Johannesburg Summit. This is a particularly important initiative. This, again, is a complex issue and there is a need for greater clarity on how taxes and royalties for such operations are distributed. I should also say that there is probably a need to consider whether they are properly or appropriately distributed – but that is for another time.
Detailed environmental protection measures in the Extractive Industries Review include proposals such as closure planning and guidelines on tailings management in extractive industries. In many ways these reflect concerns that we are also addressing. The European Union guidance note on best available techniques for mining wastes is very advanced and will set out best practice in this area. Many local factors, such as climatic conditions, determine the most appropriate ways to mitigate potential adverse impacts. Nevertheless, our work in Europe will make a useful contribution to better environmental practice and standards in managing mining waste, as well as the Cyanide Code of Practice developed by the UNEP through multi-stakeholder consultation and participation.
We support the conclusions of the Johannesburg Summit and the Plan of Implementation, including the specific commitments in relation to the mining, minerals, metals and energy sectors. We also support the promotion of corporate responsibility and accountability, and the exchange of best practices in the context of sustainable development. Our position on these issues is clear and, I expect, well known to all interests, including the World Bank. Nonetheless, our interests and concerns in those areas are worth underlining and restating."@en1
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