Minerals
PANEL OF EXPERTS
01 Mission
02 Experts
03 Activity
04 EU Policy
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.
Experts
Panagiotis Zachariadis
Coordinator of Minerals
Asa Allan
Henrik Ask
John Clifford
Reik Degler
Rubén Esteban Pérez
Guy Franceschi
Magnus Johansson
Simon McCurdy
Filipe Pinto
Aleksi Salo
Martin Shepley
Ivan Veljkovic
Ruth Allington
Remi Bosc
Vitor Correia
Pim Demecheleer
Julien Feneyrol
Eva Hartai
Stavros Kalaitzidis
Nicola Mondillo
Leena Rajavuori
Christian Schaffalitzky
Jacek Sobczyk
Romeu Vieira
Carlos Almeida
Robert Bowell
Marco Cosi
Emanuele Emani
János Földessy
Zygmunt Jakubiak
Kersten Kühn
Michael Neumann
Henrik Rutanen
Bernd Schürmann
Slavko Solar
Radoslav Vukas
Hardi Aosaar
José Mário Castelo Branco
Natanael Cuéllar González
José Ignacio Escavy Fernandez
Zbyněk Gabriel
Pippa Jeffcock
Sergio Matteoli
Pablo Nuñez Fernandez
Ville-Matti Seppä
Todor Todorov
Activities
March 2026
EFG response to EU Artic Policy Update
February 2026
EFG publishes press release ‘European Court of Auditors Confirms Geological Blind Spot in EU Raw Materials Strategy‘.
January 2026
EFG publishes position paper on the RESourceEU Initiative
November 2025
EFG provides feedback on the EU Circular Economy Act.
March 2025
EFG strongly supports the European Commission’s recent announcement of 47 strategic projects selected under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).
March 2025
EFG has published a press release highlighting the urgent need for a secure and sustainable supply of rare earth elements (REE).
November 2024
Launch of EFG Policy Manifesto: Geology’s Vital Contribution to European Competitiveness
April 2024
EFG welcomes adoption of the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA)
– 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)
Raw materials for a sustainable Europe: geologists at the core of critical supply, green innovation, and responsible governance.
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
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
Projects
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: Abstract -EFG Comments on Discussion Paper “Raw Materials for a Modern Society”, February 2011
EFG Position Statement on Mineral Resources Policy and Management in Europe, March 2006.
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:
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.
– European rock and role, EU IM PRODUCTION, February 2009.
– Mining waste Directive was adopted in 2006.
– Information on Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources. December 2005
Events
June 2024: PERC training on International Mineral Reporting Standards
November 2006: Taiex Workshop in Budapest.
August 2007: SOCIETY FOR GEOLOGY APPLIED TO MINERAL DEPOSITS (SGA) Conference Dublin August 2007: A session on resource – reserve issues is being convened by J Clifford.
Other publications we invite you to consult
In Brief document from ICMM on the CRIRSCO family of reporting standards
