European Regulation on Responsible Mineral Sourcing

Context

The 1st of January 2021 marked the entry into force of the European Regulation on Responsible Sourcing of tin, tungsten tantalum and gold (3TG) from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The Regulation aims to ensure that European companies carry out due diligence checks on their suppliers up-to the middle of the supply chains, so as to minimise and manage the risks of human rights abuse and to break the link between the exploitation of mineral resources and violent conflicts.

The Regulation was coupled with “accompanying measures” by the European Commission, aiming to assist producing countries, local communities and the most vulnerable actors to engage with systems of accountability throughout the production chain.

The Regulation represents an important first step in ensuring transparent mineral production chains that curb human rights abuse. However, a question remains: what is its real impact in producing
countries, particularly with regards to benefits for local communities and small-scale, artisanal mining
operators?

The conference is being organised with a view on the 2021 evaluation of the accompanying measures, on the 2023 review of the Regulation, as well as on upcoming legislations such as a horizontal due diligence legislation (Sustainable Corporate Governance Initiative) and the Batteries Regulation that includes due diligence requirements for specific minerals.

Organisers: European Network for Central Africa (EurAc), Germanwatch, IPIS, Justice & Paix, the MADINI project, Ecumenical Network for Central Africa (ÖNZ).

With the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany.

The event is organised in English, French and Spanish.