Civil society calls for transparency on the companies subjected to the European Union’s Regulation on the supply of 3TG minerals

Brussels (2nd March 2020). The EU Regulation on the responsible supply of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold (3TG) from conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRA) is a crucial first step towards supply chains free from human rights abuse. The EU Regulation on the responsible supply of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold (3TG) from conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRA) was approved in 2017 and will enter into force in 2021. Before this date, the EU member states need to adopt measures to ensure the implementation of the Regulation. However, the first implementation measures being discussed by member states risk diluting the efficacy of the Regulation by concealing the list of companies subjected to it. Civil society organizations across Europe are calling for transparency to ensure the due diligence is effective and human rights are protected.

The problem currently arising is that member states seem to be adopting a loose interpretation of the text of the Regulation and seem unwilling to publish the list of national companies that are subjected to the it. This will make it impossible for members of (national) parliaments, media, downstream industry and civil society groups both in Europe and in producing countries to monitor corporate behavior and to raise ‘substantiated concerns’, as provided for in art 11(2) of the Regulation.

At this crucial point civil society organizations in Europe are calling on their governments to make sure that their respective implementation measures include provisions for the publication of the list of national importers subject to the Regulation.

“Concealing the list of national importers would also create an uneven playing field amongst companies– monitoring would focus on companies that are already known to import 3TG, overlooking companies that are less well known.”, criticizes Gesine Ames from the Ecumenical Network for Central Africa. 

“The non-publication of the list of national importers will make it near impossible for third parties to raise substantiated concerns.”, fears Giuseppe Cioffo from the European Network for Central Africa.

“Transparency is a fundamental requirement for effective due diligence. In view of the next member states expert meeting on the Regulation, we urge member states to ensure that the list of national importers subject to the Regulation is not only made available to competent authorities, but that it is also published annually.”, calls Cornelia Heydenreich from Germanwatch.

Signed

ActionAid – The Netherlands (The Netherlands / Africa – Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN – Madrid Antenna) (Spain) / Association of Ethical Shareholders (Germany) / Bread for the World / Brot für die Welt (Germany) / Christian Initiative Romero (Germany) / Commission Justice & Paix (Belgium) / Diakonia (Sweden) / DKA Austria – Hilfswerk der Katholischen Jungschar (Austria) / Ecumenical Network for Central Africa (Germany) / Eine Welt Zentrum Herne (Germany) / Entraide & Fraternité (Belgium) / European Network for Central Africa – EurAc / Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg (Luxembourg) / FOCSIV (Italy) / Fondazione MAGIS (Italy) / Fundación Alboan (Spain) / GegenStrömung – Institut für Ökologie und Aktions-Ethnologie (INFOE e.V.) (Germany) / Germanwatch (Germany) / Good Shepherd International Foundation (Italy) / Justicia i Pau Barcelona (Spain) / Norwegian Church Aid (Norway) / PMU (Sweden) / PowerShift e.V. (Germany) / REDES - Red de Entidades para el Desarrollo Solidario (Spain) / Solidaritat Castelldefels Kasando (Spain) / SOMO (The Netherlands) / Swedwatch (Sweden) / WEED (Germany)