Adoption of position on proposal regulating trade of ‘conflict minerals’

The European Parliament's plenary session adopted on 20 May 2015 its position regarding a draft law on responsible sourcing of minerals originating in conflict-affected and high-risk areas.

The Parliament's position ask for EU companies processing, importing and using these minerals to be certified by the European Union to ensure that they do not fuel conflicts and human rights abuses in conflict areas.

The proposal was put forward by the European Commission in March 2014. The Council of the European Union published conclusions on this draft law in June 2014. The Parliament's trade committee first adopted its position in April 2015. Following the plenary endorsement, negotiations with the remaining EU institutions followed. Media reported in February 2016 that the process had stalled over deep disagreement.

• Primary Source

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EUR-Lex: COM (2014)111: Follow this proposal through the EU policy making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=CELEX:52014PC0111&qid=1432192956331

BBC News, 20.05.15: MEPs back tougher gold checks under 'blood minerals' laws http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32818870

Deutsche Welle, 20.05.15: EU lawmakers vote to ban 'blood minerals' http://dw.de/p/1FTLL

EUObserver, 20.05.15: MEPs adopt binding rules on conflict minerals https://euobserver.com/news/128773

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EurActiv, 16.04.15: Parliament adopts relaxed measures on conflict minerals http://www.euractiv.com/sections/development-policy/parliament-adopts-relaxed-measures-conflict-minerals-313810

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The Guardian, 18.05.15: European parliament must seize its chance to stop trade in conflict minerals http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/may/18/european-parliament-stop-trade-conflict-minerals

European Parliament: Press Release, 14.04.15: Trade MEPs beef up rules to stem flow of conflict mineral money to armed groups http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20150413IPR41655/

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