MEPs seek tougher rules on conflict minerals

MEPs seek tougher rules on conflict minerals
Copyright 
By James Franey
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button

EU lawmakers have backed tougher rules to limit the import of conflict minerals. A European Parliament committee said it should be more difficult for

ADVERTISEMENT

EU lawmakers have backed tougher rules to limit the import of conflict minerals.

A European Parliament committee said it should be more difficult for military groups to finance their activities by selling precious minerals.

MEPs want a system of self-certification to be mandatory, rather than voluntary as the European Commission had proposed.

That would mean companies would have to prove that all resources throughout their supply chain were ‘conflict-free’.

The US already has legally binding requirements, which focus on the Great Lakes region in Africa.

The EU’s draft law may not just apply to sub-Saharan Africa.

For example it could apply in Colombia, where militias control some gold mining regions.

Share this articleComments

You might also like

State of the Union: Issues feeding anti-democratic anger

Shipping firms plead for UN help amid escalating Middle East conflict

EU sanctions extremist Israeli settlers over violence in the West Bank