Panel of Experts on Minerals and their sustainable use
Mission
Sustain and enhance EFG’s professional voice in minerals-related international collaboration. Main areas of participation:
- To act as EFG’s body of experts in minerals-related themes.
- European Commission expert group on risk management in the extractive sector (José Ignacio Escavy Fernandez)
- European Commission operational expert group of the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials
- Raw Material Supply Group, European Commission experts’ group under the responsibility of the Direction General for Enterprise and Industry (Iris Vukovic)
- Support the adoption of the Pan-European Reserves and Resources Code (PERC) by the major professional geological association in Europe and its recognition internationally as a CRIRSCO template for an international standard/code.
- Participation in the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Resources (“UNFC”) adopted by the UN in June 2004 and updated in 2009.
Our experts
Panagiotis Zachariadis
Coordinator
coordinator.minerals_at_eurogeologists.eu
Asa Allan
Ruth Allington
Carlos Almeida
Hardi Aosaar
Henrik Ask
Remi Bosc
Robert Bowell
José Mário Castelo Branco
John Clifford
Vitor Correia
Marco Cosi
Natanael Cuéllar González
Reik Degler
Pim Demecheleer
Emanuele Emani
José Ignacio Escavy Fernandez
Rubén Esteban Pérez
Julien Feneyrol
János Földessy
Zbyněk Gabriel
Guy Franceschi
Eva Hartai
Zygmunt Jakubiak
Pippa Jeffcock
Magnus Johansson
Stavros Kalaitzidis
Kersten Kühn
Sergio Matteoli
Simon McCurdy
Nicola Mondillo
Michael Neumann
Pablo Nuñez Fernandez
Filipe Pinto
Leena Rajavuori
Henrik Rutanen
Aleksi Salo
Christian Schaffalitzky
Bernd Schürmann
Ville-Matti Seppä
Martin Shepley
Jacek Sobczyk
Slavko Solar
Todor Todorov
Ivan Veljkovic
Romeu Vieira
Radoslav Vukas
Our current activity
- European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA)
- UNECE Experts Group on Resource Classification (EGRC): UN Economic Commission for Europe, United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources (UNFC)
Activities we developed
EFG response to the Critical Raw Materials Act proposal
In June 2023, EFG has submitted feedback on the proposed text of the European Commission’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) which was published in March 2023.
EFG welcomes the publication of the CRMA and thanks the Commission for the opportunity to provide feedback. As a not-for-profit organisation instituted to ensure competent and ethical practice among geoscientists in Europe while representing the profession across the continent, EFG has identified three overarching themes within the pending legislation that the Federation believes should be revised:
- There is an Insufficient Geology Talent Pool to Meet the Targets Set Forth in the CRMA
- Revisions Important to Ensuring the European Union can Meet Targets
- Uphold Our Sustainability and Environmental Justice Standards Worldwide
EFG’s full response to the CRMA proposal is available at the following link.
Position paper: Mineral Exploration and the EU Taxonomy regulation
The European Union’s taxonomy scheme is developing a listing of environmentally sustainable economic activities with a view to boosting sustainable investment practices. In this regard, the European Federation of Geologists’ Expert Panel on Minerals has issued a position paper highlighting the importance of best practices in mineral exploration as the sector can provide a significant contribution to the achievement of the European Green Deal.
You may access the full position paper at: https://bit.ly/2TaWRm8
General:
Projects:
- CHPM2030 project
- ERA-MIN Network
- FORAM project
- INFACT project
- INTERMIN project
- INTRAW project (coordinated by EFG)
- MINATURA2020 project
- MinLand project
- UNEXMIN project
- SUMEX project
Events:
- EuroWorkshop: Geology and the energy transition, May 2019
- UNFC Workshop, November 2018
- EFG/UNECE conference: International cooperation on natural resources: geoscientists’ contribution to enhanced governance, policy making and attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, February 2017
- MIN WIN WIN conference, 2014
- Natural Resources Reporting Workshop on May 15th, 2009 in conjunction with the EFG Council meeting in Dublin.
- Taiex Workshop in Budapest (November 2006).
- (SOCIETY FOR GEOLOGY APPLIED TO MINERAL DEPOSITS) SGA Conference Dublin August 2007: A session on resource – reserve issues is being convened by J Clifford.
Publications:
- Contribution to the EC’s Call for evidence on the European Critical Raw Materials Act, November 2022
- EFG Position Paper on “Mineral exploration and the EU taxonomy regulation”, June 2021
- EFG Position Paper on Sustainable Raw Materials for Europe, September 2020.
- Horses for Courses: CRIRSCO Template and UN Framework Classification, Presentation by Ruth Allington and Stephen Henley
- Horses for Courses: Abstract -EFG Comments on Discussion Paper “Raw Materials for a Modern Society”, February 2011
- EFG Position Statement on European Technology Platform Sustainable Mineral Resources (ETPSMR), March 2006.
- EFG Position Statement on Mineral Resources Policy and Management in Europe, March 2006.
- The qualified person concept EFG submission, with respect to the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the management of waste from the extractive industries, February 2004.
- An Introduction to the Code for Reporting of Mineral Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Reserves, October 2001.
- Code for reporting of Mineral Exploration Results, Mineral resources and mineral reserves, (The reporting Code), October 2001.
Other documents:
- CRIRSCO reporting standards workshop, London, 7 November 2011, Ruth Allington
- Public consultation on a possible Innovation Partnership on raw materials: EFG Contribution
- Statement on the UNECE Expert Group Meeting on Resource Classification, Geneva, 6-8 April 2011, Andy Bowden.
- Statement on the Workshop “Raw Materials for a modern society”, Brussels, 28 February 2011, Andy Bowden.
- Statement “Spain needs mineral reserves in order to face a possible under-supply”, 25 May 2011, Ruben Esteban.
- Report on the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO) annual meeting held on 28-29 September 2010 in Moscow, Russia
- European Commission proposes new strategy to address EU critical needs for Raw Materials, EU Raw Materials Initiative On 2 February 2011 the European Commission adopted its final communication Com(2011) 25 final “Tackling the challenges in commodity markets and on raw materials”. Based on the public consultation to which the EFG PE contributed, the European Commission had already created a first communication document in 2008. The attention to access to raw materials and including access from European sources, will involve contributions of the national geological surveys and eventually the European Geological profession. EFG PE promotes the use of the PERC code as a tool to align reserves and resources definitions in Europe, which is only one element that will improve the knowledge base for which the European Commission is calling.
Monitoring the EU policy
EU funding:
EU institutions involved:
Commission:
Parliament:
- Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy
- Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy
Relevant EU documents
- European Parliament non-binding Resolution on an effective raw materials strategy for Europe (2011/2056(INI)), 13 September 2011.
- Communication from the European Commission “Tackling the challenges in commodity markets and on raw materials”, February 2011, Com(2011) 25 final.
- Innovation Partnership: Non-Energy Raw Materials for a Modern Society, Discussion Document, 17 December 2010. Ref.Ares(2010) 965067.
- European rock and role, EU IM PRODUCTION, February 2009.
- Communication on the Raw Materials Initiative – Meeting our critical needs for growth and jobs in Europe, November 2008.
- European Commission proposes new strategy to address EU critical needs for Raw Material. Press release
- Mining waste Directive was adopted in 2006.
- Information on Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources.December 2005
Our YouTube selection
Other publications we invite you to consult
- In Brief document from ICMM on the CRIRSCO family of reporting standards
- United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009
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