Through its “Conflict Minerals regulation”, the European Union has the objective to break the link between conflicts and the exploitation of natural resources. Following the European Parliament vote in May 2015 requiring all companies to check their supply chains, the EU Council came to the Trialogue negotiations with a different proposal: an opt-in system on a voluntary basis, targeting only importers of minerals and metals. During this panel debate we will explore which regulatory framework could effectively contribute to stopping the suffering of populations living near mines while bringing assurance to EU citizens that they aren't complicit with human rights abuses when buying high tech products. The discussion will be enriched by the presence of a first-hand witness of the violence caused by armed groups, Abbot Léonard SANTEDI, Secretary General of the Congolese Bishops’ Conference (CENCO), which in 2007 created a specific Episcopal Commission for Natural Resources.
With:
Abbot Léonard SANTEDI, Secretary General of the Congolese Bishop Conference and Priest of Kinshasa.
MEP Elmar BROK, President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.
Jan TYTGAT, Director EU Government Affairs Benelux, Umicore.
Denise AUCLAIR, Senior Policy Advisor, CIDSE.
The discussion will be followed by light refreshments. Registration starts at 17:30 Interpretation will be provided in English & French Please register by indicating Name/Organization at: reinhold@cidse.org
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