Emd Media Breakfast - Programme

European Minerals Day 2009 Proposed Media Breakfast Format Date: 13 May 2009 Time: 10.00–11.00 Venue: IMA Europe, rue des Deux Eglises 26, 1000 Brussels Theme: Launch of the European Minerals Day 2009 EU Policies: Raw Materials Initiative & Biodiversity 9.30 – Arrivals, Registration and Breakfast (Standing-up) 10.00 – Welcome and Industry Perspective (Thierry Salmona, IMA-Europe President) • Introduction to the European Minerals Day: What is the European Minerals Day? What is happening across Europe? How many countries and visitors are expected? • Objective of the EMD with reference to the Raw Materials Initiative and the need to raising awareness about the importance of the minerals sector for a competitive and sustainable Europe. • 1) Outline the importance of the minerals industry (economic & social perspective -jobs, turnover, products, safety), as well as it contribution to the well being of society, by providing services that nothing else can provide. • 2) Address the third pillar of sustainable development and refer to the 2009 theme of the EMD “Biodiversity”: outline the minerals industry’s contribution to the protection and enhancement of biodiversity, illustrated by a few example of outstanding biodiversity preservation • Emphasise role of geological surveys for strategic planning. 10.10 - NGO representative (S. Winkler, Countdown 2010) – NGO / Environment Perspective  Communicating good practices – time to raise awareness?  How do the NGOs look upon the minerals sector? What do they expect? Do they recognise the sector’s contribution to biodiversity? The way forward. 10.20 - Commission DG ENV representative – Environment Policy Perspective • Business and Biodiversity initiative • Examples of compatibility of the minerals extraction industry with biodiversity and environmental conservation (Natura 2000), … • Legislative future: EU Biodiversity Action Plan and its implementation, new communication expected in January 2010 (ref. multi-stakeholder conference, Athens, April) 10.30 – Commission DG ENTR representative – Industry Policy Perspective  Welcome the European Minerals Day – why this initiative strongly supports the Raw Materials Initiative and more in particular how it can contribute to the overall aim to ensure a sustainable (domestic) supply of crucial raw materials ...  Access to resources – increased competition for land use  EC support of the EMD • Other elements: social license to operate, long and difficult permitting

procedures, higher environmental standards and demands from the community, biodiversity, …. 10.40– 11.00 – Questions and Answers Session