COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social committee and the Committee of the Regions Making Raw Materials available for Europe's future well-being - proposal for a European Innovation Partnership on Raw materials
Date: 2012-02-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: industrial cooperation, innovation, management of resources, raw material, research and development, security of supply, technical cooperation

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 29.2.2012  
SWD(2012) 27 final 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER 
Accompanying the document 

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the 
European Economic and Social committee and the Committee of the Regions 

Making Raw Materials available for Europe's future well-being - proposal for a 
European Innovation Partnership on Raw materials 

{COM(2012) 82 final} 

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COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER 
Accompanying the document 

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the 
European Economic and Social committee and the Committee of the Regions 

Making Raw Materials available for Europe's future well-being - proposal for a 
European Innovation Partnership on Raw materials 

1. 

COHERENCE WITH CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS

1

 AND EU VALUE ADDED 

1.1. 

Focus on a specific societal challenge: 

The European Union needs to make a significant step by 2020 if it is to improve the security 
of supply and achieve efficient and sustainable management of non-energy, non-agricultural 
raw  materials  in  the  EU.  These  include  many  and  diversified  materials  such  as  aggregates, 
industrial  minerals  and  wood,  but  also  metals  used  in  high  technology  industries  such  as 
cobalt, platinum, rare earths, and titanium.  

The  objectives  of  this  Partnership  are  clear:  the  European  Union  has  to  extract  more 
efficiently  and  safely,  to  re-use  and  recycle  more,  to  find  alternatives/substitutes  for  critical 
raw  materials  and  to  be  more  resource  efficient  by  decoupling  resource  use  from  economic 
growth. 

There are clear positive impacts on competitiveness, with about 30 million EU jobs depending 
on  the  availability  of  raw  materials.  The  development  of  EU's  high  tech  manufacturing 
industry  including  eco-technologies  is  at  stake.  The  proposal  aims  at  reducing  the  risk  of 
undermining  the  EU  capacity  to  produce  strategic  products  for  its  society.  From  this 
perspective,  it  is  also  a  necessary  basis  for  the  success  of  other  relevant  Innovation 
Partnerships.  

1.2.  Major policy instruments 

The  policy  measures  used  are  both  on  the  supply  and  on  the  demand-side.  On  the  supply-
side, companies should be the main drivers of efficiency improvements, but national and EU 
level  research  and  innovation  funding  can  be  mobilised  to  fund  development  of  the  new 
technologies and processes. In this context, research and innovation are crucial because new 
and  more  sustainable  extraction,  more  resource  efficient  use  and  recycling  technologies,  as 
well as new substitutes for currently used materials cannot be developed without significant 
efforts involving new research activities as well as new Development and Innovation projects. 

On  the  demand  side,  standardisation  and  certification  schemes  are  needed  in  many 
instances, in order to complement the market. Examples of such needs include: 

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As outlined in the Innovation Union Flagship Communication COM(2010) 546  

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interoperable  software  and  data  management  packages,  allowing  faster 
integration  of  data  for  cross-country  exploration  and  survey  including  3D 
geological mapping; 

common  terminology  related  to  mineral  and  metals  classification  and 
production  statistics,  harmonised  geological  resources  classification  e.g. 
according to the UNFC2 guidelines; 

new  eco-design  standards  and  requirements  to  promote  the  use  of  recycled 
materials, to increase the durability and recyclability of products and to ensure 
an efficient use of materials (e.g. metals scrap, paper for recycling) 

Special  attention  will  be  given  to  promote  a  full  implementation  of  existing  legislation  and 
increased  exchange  of  best  practices  related  to  the  implementation  of  Environmental  and 
Minerals Policies in Member States, particularly in the field of land use and in mining waste, 
as well as in the sustainable management of resources, including harvesting and mobilisation 
of wood. 

Public  procurement  plays  also  an  important  role  in  steering  innovation  in  general  and 
sustainable  trends  in  particular.  Indeed,  in  being  first  or  early,  smart  and  responsible 
purchasers, public procurers can be powerful actors to create incentives for recycled materials 
and related services to steer the materials flow efficiently by all means. Public procurement 
policies  on  a  national,  regional  or  local  level  that  support  the  uptake  and  diffusion  of  new 
substitutes,  and  recycling  technologies  and  sufficient  collecting  schemes  for  raw  materials 
will be developed with all stakeholders from demand and supply side. Public procurement can 
stimulate  best  practice  examples,  promote  the  use  of  recycled,  durable  and  recyclable 
products  and  can  help  to  set  benchmarks  for  economical  feasible  and  environmental  sound 
solutions. 

1.3. 

EU added value of this Partnership 

The Partnership will create critical mass towards the single objective of ensuring sustainable 
access  to  raw  materials  by  creating  synergies  between  different  policy  instruments 
(technological, regulatory and standardisation), reinforcing co-ordination with Member States 
where their contribution is crucial and ensuring the development of integrated value chains. 

The lack, in the past, of clear EU instruments aiming at promoting innovation has contributed 
to a gradual loss of skills and knowledge in the EU (e.g. of mining and related engineering). 
At the same time, the insufficient implementation of the EU waste legislation has hampered 
the full exploitation of EU's potential (e.g. recycling). The Partnership aims at changing this 
situation.  

There  is  an  insufficient  co-operation  between  Member  States  in  different  domains. 
National geological surveys use different nomenclature and different definitions which limits 
pan-EU  assessments  and  references.  Some  countries  apply  strict  conditions  in  public 
procurement, notably to promote the recycling markets, but there is scope for an extension of 
this practice.  

2 

United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) for Fossil Energy and Mineral Resources provided 
by  the  UNECE  Ad  Hoc  Group  of  Experts  on  the  Harmonization  of  Fossil  Energy  and  Mineral 
Resources Terminology 

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The mining, harvesting, substitution, resource efficiency and recycling research efforts inside 
the  EU  do  not  presently  have  the  necessary  critical  mass.  Developing  integrated  'value 
chains' from extraction and process of raw material, product design and use to end of life can 
only  be  achieved  by  ensuring  a  dialogue  between  mining,  harvesting,  manufacturing,  waste 
management and recycling industries. No national research programme in the EU can cover 
all aspects.  

In  addition,  co-operation  between  national  research  organisations  is  very  limited  and 
contributes to a high fragmentation the European Research Area3.  The  research investments 
and  risks  are  too  large  for  many  private  companies.  Efforts  should  be  made  to  strengthen 
research  initiatives  both  at  EU  and  at  international  level  with  a  view  to  address  issues  of 
common benefit at global level e.g. finding viable alternatives for primary and secondary raw 
materials.  

Also,  the  EU  should  play  a  geopolitical  role  in  ensuring  access  for  EU  companies  to  raw 
materials in the world while respecting as far as possible EU environmental standards. These 
standards,  set  at  EU  level  and  adopted  world-wide,  can  ensure  a  level  playing  field  and  the 
competitiveness of EU players.  

Similar  to  Large  Scale  Facility  (LSF)-Programmes  in  natural  science,  the  establishment  of 
structured  joint  venture  programmes  in  the  addressed  areas  would  strengthen  national 
excellence and increase visibility, both within the EU and on the international stage. Whilst 
EU companies can participate in commercial deep-sea exploration and exploitation activities, 
they are excluded from the state-sponsored efforts that some non-EU countries, with the same 
concerns as the EU about raw materials, are now beginning to undertake.  

1.4. 

Support from Member states and stakeholders 

The Council has, on different occasions, asked for swift action. The Council Conclusions of 
10th of March 2011 "INVITES the Commission to further promote innovation and research 
and development efforts in the raw materials value chain, to assess the case for launching a 
European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on raw materials and to come forward with proposals 
for  this  as  appropriate".  The  Environmental  Council  of  December  2010  calls  on  the 
Commission to develop integrated and sustainable material-based strategies. 

Several  EU  Member  States  such  as  Finland,  France,  the  Netherlands  and  Germany  have 
already developed their national raw material strategies and also have been very supportive of 
EU initiatives in this field. Many indications show that Member States see a real added value 
for stronger EU-level co-operation.  

A  public  consultation4,  which  ran  from  15  April  until  22  June  2011,  yielded  about  160 
contributions from citizens, organisations (federations, companies active in mining, recycling 
and  down-stream  users),  and  public  authorities,  which  supported  the  overall  idea  and 
objective of an Innovation Partnership, the suggested targets and possible work packages. 

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4 

A project under ERA-NET on industrial handling will make an evaluation on the current shortages. 
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/raw-materials/public-consultation-ip/index_en.htm 

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2. 

WORK PACKAGES 

2.1.  WP  1  -  Developing  innovative  technologies  and  solutions  for  sustainable  and 

safe raw materials supply  

Addressing  innovative  technologies  along  the  entire  value  chain  for  cost-effective,  safe  and 
environmentally and socially sound raw materials production including:  

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advanced exploration technologies, such as for sensing and 3D/4D mapping; 

innovative alternatives for extraction, including frontier technologies such as for the 
extraction  of  deep  continental  crust  and  marine  raw  materials  resources  that  will 
build a new benchmark in mining of primary resources; 

technologies  to  reduce  the  use  of  hazardous  substances,  such  as  cyanide  in  mining 
processes, and creosote in wood treatment;, and technologies to improve the recovery 
from waste, including for example red mud and abandoned or closed mining waste 
facilities; 

advanced  technologies  for  the  pre-processing  steps  of  minerals  and  secondary  raw 
materials  such  as  metals,  glass,  plastics,  paper,  wood,  waste  aggregates  etc.  via 
automated  sorting  systems,  and  clean  and  resource  efficient  processing  of  raw 
materials,  such  as  (bio-)  hydrometallurgy,  closed  loop  processes  for  most  polluting 
and  most  value-adding  industrial  production,  including  innovative  technological 
solutions  for  water  management,  combined  with  energy  consumption  minimisation 
and recovery of by-products; 

turning  wastes  into  valuable  secondary  raw  materials  by  developing  more  efficient 
recycling/recovering processes (e.g. metals recycling from municipal waste, thermo-
chemical  phosphorous  recovery  from  incinerated  sludge,  rare  metals  recovery  from 
waste  electric  and  electronic  equipment,  advanced  recycling  methods  for  the 
construction and demolition waste, multi-material cartons and paper waste etc.);  

the development of standardisation roadmaps for the above fields to ensure practical 
application of the research results and binding together the developed technologies to 
enable  the  most  effective  innovation  impact,  while  avoiding  unnecessary  costs  for 
business. 

2.2.  WP  2  –  Developing  innovative  and  sustainable  solutions  for  the  appropriate 

substitution of critical and scarce raw materials 

Achieving  solutions  to  reduce  the  use  including  finding  of  substitutes  of  critical,  scarce  or 
hazardous materials including: 

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First set of priority actions may be derived from identified critical raw materials for 
our  economy  and  from  the  most  economically  vital  and  ecological  sensitive 
applications  where  critical  raw  materials  are  used  in  large  proportions  or  are  the 
crucial components; 

Finding  sustainable  alternatives,  for  example,  for  rare  earths  in  permanent  or  heat 
resistant magnets, LEDs and displays, or electrical drives and regenerative braking; 

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precious  metals  in  catalysers,  indium  and  gallium  compounds  in  semi-conductors, 
telecommunication or lighting; 

Addressing  technical  solutions  to  increase  resource  efficient  production  technology 
(production processes and manufacturing equipments) in order to be competitive on 
the global market; 

Building  upon  the  work  of  relevant  European  Technology  Platforms,  identify 
opportunities  and  develop  new  ideas  for  innovative  materials  and  products  with 
potential to be put in the market.  

2.3.  WP  3  -  Improving  EU's  raw  materials  regulatory  framework,  knowledge  and 

infrastructure base  

Finding sustainable alternative solutions such as those related to:  

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building  an  innovative  knowledge  base  of  EU  resources,  including  exploration  of 
primary  and  secondary  raw  materials  (on  land  and  in  the  marine  environment)  and 
estimations of the resource availability including urban mines (land fills and mining 
waste); 

make  use  of  satellite  based  information  systems  such  the  Global  Monitoring  for 
Environment and Security; 

identification  and  exchange  of  best  practices  in  defining  a  minerals  policy  in  the 
Member  States  based  on  principles  of  sustainable  development  and  on  a  strict 
enforcement  of  the  existing  legislation  notably  for  what  concerns  the  safety  of 
mining waste facilities, the prevention of mining waste generation and the reduction 
of their impact on the environment; 

identification  of  best  practices  in  terms  of  land-use  planning  for  minerals  in  the 
Member  States  and  to  incorporate  the  consideration  of  minerals  in  marine  spatial 
plans; 

identifying  different  instruments  (such  as  one-stop-shop  or  parallel  assessment)  in 
order to facilitate the process for authorisation of minerals exploration and extraction 
in the Member States; 

improving  environmental  impact  assessment  methodologies  and  identifying  good 
practices in their use to facilitate the access to and the smooth supply of primary and 
secondary raw materials; 

standardisation  of  geological  data  including  by-products  and  coherence  on  the 
relevant  terminology,  such  as  common  terminology  related  to  mineral  and  metals 
classification and production statistics5; 

E.g. Talc production in France can today not be differentiated between low and high grade Talc, while 
imported  Talc  will  be  a  high  quality  grade  commodity  typically  with  a  high  whiteness  and  limited 
countries of supply (Pakistan, China, North Korea) 

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promote the application of the existing Best Available Technique (BAT) documents 
for the extractive industry and pulp and paper industry inside and outside the EU; 

implementation  of  standardisation  and/or  certification  schemes  for  mining 
operations;  

skills  to  promote  technical  excellence  in  line  with  the  requirements  of  a  high-tech 
mining industry and to maximise the added value of innovation; 

2.4.  WP 4 - Improving the regulatory framework conditions, notably by promoting 
excellence and prevention, preparation for re-use and recycling through public 
(e.g. procurement) and private initiatives  

Pursue the following non-technological actions: 

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finding appropriate tools for a timely assessment of the officially adopted targets in 
particular  by  taking  advantage  of  the  experience  of  the  most  advanced  Member 
States; 

improve the profitability and reduce the cost of recycling by enhancing efficiency in 
the collection, sorting and recycling of waste, including by:  

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examining  innovative  economic  models  for  incentivising  consumers  to  return 
waste to collection points; 

identifying  and  examining  existing  collection  systems  which  combine 
competition, high recovery rates, environmental protection and low costs; 

developing new economic instruments promoting the use of recycled materials 
and the further development of EU based recycling industry; 

identifying  ways  of  tracking  major  flows  of  waste  inside  and  outside  the  EU  to 
eliminate illegal or substandard treatment of waste by a strict application of existing 
legislation; 

develop  new  product  policies  focused  on  primary  and  secondary  raw  materials 
efficiency  (recyclability,  durability,  etc)  through  various  type  of  EU  instruments: 
green public procurement, ecodesign Directive, Ecolabels; 

propose and implement standardisation and/or certification schemes for example, for 
recycling facilities inside and outside the EU to avoid environmental leakage to assist 
and  complement  recycling  companies  activities,  through  interoperable  authority-
company systems for tracking waste to prevent illegal dumping/ trade for collecting 
processing hazardous waste electronic equipment. 

Develop incentives and innovative support schemes to optimise the added value that 
can be extracted from primary and secondary raw materials. 

2.5.  WP 5 – International framework – horizontal approach 

Promoting  appropriate  international  co-operation,  including  with  exporting  or  recycling 
developing countries. This co-operation may deal with different policy issues such as 

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geology and improving the geological knowledge base; 

research and innovation; 

trade and investment conditions; 

policy  dialogue/co-operation  with  international  organisations  and  fora  such  as  the 
World  Bank,  African  Union,  Extractive  Industries  Transparency  Initiative,  OECD, 
G20 and International Resources Panel, as well as bilateral cooperation (e.g. Japan, 
the US, Australia. 

3. 

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE 

The  EIP  will  follow  the  usual  EU  institutional  decision  making  processes  to  implement 
actions, such as in funding, regulation and standardisation. The Council will provide EU-level 
political guidance (launch and endorse the implementation plan, and adjust political targets). 
The Parliament will be kept informed. 

The governance structure covers 4 different levels of action: 

governance structure raw materials EIP

Comp Council and EP 

Decision making

EC (normal Institutional role) 

High Level Level Steering Group
+ sherpa group

Orientation level 

Planning-Monitoring

Workpackages

WP1

WP2

WP3

WP4

WP5

Actions/Projects

Operational groups

Advise and 
Implementation

3.1. 

High level steering Group (HLSG) 

The Steering Group will be the orientation level, because it will develop the strategic direction 
of this EIP.  

Mandate:  

Its  mandate  will  have  two  parts.  During  the  preparation  phase  (mid-2012-early  2013)  the 
HLSG will compile the strategic implementation plan (facilitated by ‘EC-secretariat’). During 
the implementation phase (mid-2013 – 2020), its tasks will be broadened to: 

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Preparation:  From  mid-2012  to  early  2013:  Compile  strategic  implementation  plan 
(facilitated by ‘EC-secretariat’); 

Implementation: mid-2013 – 2020:  

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Organise monitoring of progress made; 

Updating  strategic  implementation  plan  (SIP);  foreseen  annually,  but  can  be 
more frequent if necessary;  

Ensure feedback-inputs from broader stakeholder communities; 

Engage as EIP ‘champions/ambassadors’ with EU Institutions, Member States 
and stakeholder communities; 

Designate leaders of each work package as appropriate; 

•  Meeting once a year, or more often if needed.  

Composition: 

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6 Ministers in total (2 for each of the domains Industry/Economy, Environment and 
Research); 

10  to  12  CEOs  of  major  EU  Industries  (mining  and  materials  producers  including 
chemical, pulp and paper, wood-based industries, mechanical engineering and waste 
management industries); 

EIB  and  EIF  high-level  representative;  NGO  high-level  representative  (e.g.  EEB, 
EITI); 

6  high-level  representatives  of  research  organisations  (e.g.  ERA-NET,  European 
geological surveys, European space agencies, and European Technology Platforms); 

Vice  President  and  Commissioner  for  Industry  and  Entrepreneurship  and 
Commissioner for the Environment and Commissioner for Research, Innovation and 
Science will be associated. 

The  above-mentioned  figures  are  merely  indicative  of  the  type  and  proportionality  of 
representation which will be taken into account.  

Appointment procedure: 

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EC appoints, from mid-2012 (to be confirmed) for 3-4 years. 

EC  may  re-appoint  some  members  to  ensure  continuity,  and  will  appoint 
replacements by person with similar expertise. 

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3.2. 

Sherpa Group 

The objective of the Sherpa Group is to ensure a smooth running of the partnership including 
planning of major actions/events and preparing the meetings and follow-up of the High Level 
Steering Group.  

Mandate: 

Meeting once or twice between the meetings of the HLSG, and content-wise, it will provide 
the link between the orientation-level of the HLSG with the planning-implementation levels.  

Composition: 

The Sherpa Group should largely mirror the types of actors from the Members of the HLSG 
but may include some extra members, on a case by case basis, if considered appropriate. The 
Sherpas  should  be  the  'personal  confidente'  of  their  respective  Steering  Group  member  and 
have the expertise of the subject.  

3.3. 

Operational groups – implementation level and broad stakeholder involvement 

Their  main  task  is  to  provide  advice  to  the  HLSG,  to  convert  the  Strategic  Implementation 
Plan (SIP) into tasks and actions, to organise and carry out the detailed planning of the actions 
of the SIP. Different operational groups may be convened in order to provide the necessary 
expertise according to the different subjects covered by the working packages.  

Mandate:  

They  could  be  set  up  for  specific  actions,  and dissolved  upon  successful  delivery  of  action. 
These  groups  may  work  for  various  work  packages  and  will  be  the  operational  glue  on  the 
shop floor level. They will also contribute to monitor the implementation of actions defined in 
the strategic implementation plan. 

Composition: 

Operational  groups  are  made  up  of  experts  in  the  different  areas  covered  by  the  work 
packages.  They  may  include,  where  appropriate,  representatives  of  local  authorities  and 
relevant  bodies  and  initiatives,  such  as  Public-Private  Partnerships,  Joint  Programming 
Initiatives,  Joint  Technology  Initiatives,  and  other  funding  initiatives  Participants  should 
come  from  all  relevant  sources  of  expertise,  including  actors  not  directly  represented  in  the 
HLSG. 

3.4. 

Role of the European Commission 

The  Commissioner  responsible  for  Industry  and  Entrepreneurship  and  the  Commissioner 
responsible  for  Research,  Innovation  and  Science  will  lead  the  EIP  in  association  with  the 
Commissioner  responsible  for  Environment.  Other  Commissioners  will  be  associated  and 
invited on an ad hoc basis depending on the specific subject of discussion (e.g. Commissioner 
responsible for Trade).  

The  European  Commission  appoints  the  HLSG  and  the  operational  advisory  groups.  It  will 
also facilitate/ assist the HLSG, stakeholder engagement, and provide logistical support (e.g. 
organisation of conferences, website, etc).  

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The  European  Commission  offers  the  secretariat  services  in  the  start-up  phase.  Existing 
structures  in  the  relevant  areas,  such  as  European  Technology  Platforms,  will  be  used  as 
appropriate.  At  the  moment  of  the  official  creation  of  the  Partnership,  a  secretariat  will  be 
ready to start operating to organise work under the five different work packages including the 
meetings of the expert groups and the annual meeting of the Steering Group. 

In  late  2014,  and  in  view  of  the  experience  gathered  in  the  initial  two/three  years,  the 
European  Commission  will  propose  any  appropriate  adaptations  to  the  basic  governance 
structure presented above. 

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4. 

LINK WITH EXISTING INITIATIVES AND ACTIONS 

4.1. 

General overview 

Instrument/Initiatives 

Names 

Potential role in EIP 

European 
Platforms 
Technology Initiatives 

and 

Technology 
Joint 

with 
needs 

Existing networks of relevant 
strong 
industries 
innovation 
and 
research  organisation  should 
contribute in the definition of 
the 
the 
implementation 
the 
defined roadmaps.  

and 
of 

targets 

Sustainable 
Mineral 
Resources  (SMR),  ENIAC 
(JTI  on  nanoelectronics), 
Artemis  (JTI  on  embedded 
Photonics21, 
systems), 
SusChem, 
Manufuture, 
Industries, 
Forest-Based 
(Construction 
ECTP 
EUROP 
Platform), 
EuMaT 
(Robotics) 
Materials), 
(Advanced 
Forest-based 
Sector 
Technology Platform 

and 

ERA-NET 

Industrial  handling  of  raw 
materials 

Implementation  of  Member 
State R&D contributions  

Joint Programming Initiative  Healthy  and  productive  seas 

European  Co-operation 
Science 
(COST) networks 

in 
and  Technology 

Space programmes 

and oceans 

Not yet identified 

GMES  (Global  Monitoring 
for 
and 
Environment 
Security),  GNSS 
(Global 
Navigation  Satellite  System), 
(European 
EGNOS 
Navigation 
Geostationary 
Overlay 
and 
GALILEO 

Service) 

Implementation  of  Member 
State R&D contributions 

Implementation  of  Member 
State R&D contributions 

Collection  of 
about mineral resources 

information 

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4.2. 

Link with EU funding programmes 

FP7 themes and initiatives 

Implementation  of  EU  R&D 
contributions 

Nanosciences, 
Nanotechnologies,  Materials 
Production 
new 
and 
Technologies 
and 
Environment  Factories  of  the 
Future  PPP,  Environmental 
Technologies 

CIP 

LIFE+ 

Implementation  of  EU  level 
innovation contributions 

Innovation support for SMEs 
and ICT 

Contribution 
management 
environmental issues 

to  sustainable 
and 

Sustainable  Management  of 
Natural Resources 

The  new  HORIZON  2020,  among  other  instruments,  is  expected  to  support  actions  for  this 
Partnership. 

5. 

REACHING OUT AND REPORTING TO THE CIVIL SOCIETY AND INVOLVEMENT OF ALL 
MEMBER STATES 

In  order  to  ensure  a  regular  consultation  of  other  parties  not  directly  present  in  the  basic 
structure of the Partnership, two mechanisms are foreseen: 

The Council of Ministers will be regularly informed about major developments in the area of 
Raw  Materials  in  line  with  the  recent  Competitiveness  Council  Conclusions  adopted  on  9th 
March  2011  and  those  adopted  by  the  ENV  Council  in  December  2010.  The  Innovation 
Partnership could be a major topic of this regular exchange of views with the Council. 

A broader Stakeholders' Forum will be held annually. This would be an occasion to take stock 
of  the  work  done  by  the  Partnership  and  to  provide  inputs  for  the  continuation  of  the 
activities. 

With  ERA-NET  in  materials  and  ETP-SMR,  the  Sustainable  Consumption  and  Production 
(SCP)  and  waste  consultations  groups  the  EU  has  already  set  up  other  fora  to  provide 
continuity among stakeholders. 

Moreover,  visibility  actions  and  dissemination  of  information  via  an  internet  portal  are 
envisaged. 

6. 

ROADMAP WITH EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND CLEAR MILESTONES 

The following milestones are envisaged: 

• 

From  mid-2012:  nomination  of  HLSG  by  EC  and  start  work  on  EIP,  based  on 
discussions with Member States, EP, and stakeholders; 

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• 

Early  2013:  Strategic  Implementation  Plan  finalised  by  HLSG,  and  which  will  be 
presented by the EC to the EP and Council (first semester of 2013); 

From mid-2013: implementation started and first annual conference held; 

A number of preparatory actions and studies have been initiated in 2011 to underpin the work 
of this EIP, and will bring their first deliverables late 2011, and in the period 2012-2013, so 
that the EIP can show concrete progress from the very start. 

Short term: (2012-2013) 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

2014: 

• 

The  key  actors  and  infrastructure  for  feeding  the  raw  materials  knowledge  base  of 
Europe identified. 

First elements of the raw materials knowledge base are in place notably through the 
GMES initial operations and the GMES and Africa initiative. 

Study on Innovative Technologies and Possible Pilot Plants to be finalised 

Development of a reliable tool assessing environmental impacts of materials 

Launching dedicated FP7 research actions targeting basic concepts and technological 
elements for new production plants in extraction  and processing and for  collection, 
recycling of raw materials and actions for finding substitutes and viable alternatives 
for  at  least  three  to  critical  raw  materials.  Launching  networking  and  co-ordination 
initiatives (FP7 CSAs and ERA-NETs) to create a suitable critical mass involving as 
appropriate public authorities, industry and the research community. 

Progress  assessment  (including  the  governance structure):  to  take  into  account  new 
Multiannual Financial Framework and new Commission in place. 

Medium - long term: (2014-2020) 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Complete raw materials knowledge base of Europe created and permanently updated 
including  a  deliverable  of  a  European  3-D  map  of  the  distribution  of  raw 
materials resources, projection of future demand of raw materials according various 
scenarios, economic and environmental impacts of the scenarios. 

Up to ten innovative pilot plants for raw materials extraction, processing, product 
design and recycling. 

a  Network  of  European  Research,  Education  and  Training  Centres  on  Mineral 
resources and Mining and Materials Management (M³) is created. 

Industrially  viable  alternatives  for  at  least  three  substitutes  to  critical  raw 
materials (or groups thereof) addressed also via research projects. 

Initiatives  including  legislation  and  standardisation  promoting  the  uptake  of 
innovative solutions in place. 

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Enhanced efficiency in recycling of waste streams 

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