Conference: How to end the Conflict Minerals?
AEFJN with the Belgian network of natural resources organized a panel debate “How to end the conflict minerals?” in Namur (Belgium). In the eastern part of the DR Congo, the illegal trade of minerals has been financing armed rebel groups for over 15 years fueling and prolonging armed conflict in the area. The local population suffers from mutilations, massacres, rape, slavery and mass displacement. The EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht has proposed a voluntary self-certification scheme to 450 European companies for their imports of "conflict minerals", namely gold, tin, tantalum (coltan) and tungsten. However, by offering a voluntary self-certification scheme and by limiting the scope of the legislation the impact on the ground and, in particular, on affected populations may be minimal. The panel consisted of MEPs Maria Arena (S & D), Claude Rolin (PPE) and Philippe Lamberts (Ecolo), and Elena Peresso from the cabinet of De Gucht representing the European Commission.