ENDING THE TRADE OF CONFLICT MINERALS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
- Session: 2013-14
- Date tabled: 17.06.2013
- Primary sponsor:
- Sponsors:
That this House notes that the European Union (EU) has opened a public consultation on a possible EU initiative on conflict minerals; applauds the hard work of UK non-governmental organisations (NGOs), notably Global Witness, Christian Aid and Save the Congo, as well as Congolese NGOs, particularly ASSODIP, CREDDHO, OGP and CENADEP, for their campaign work to end the international trade of minerals that funds conflict in Congo; recalls the central role played by the UK in clamping down on blood diamonds which funded brutal wars in Angola, DRC, Liberia, Sierra Leone and elsewhere; urges the EU Commission to ensure that the initiative is mandatory, based on the Organisation for Economic, Co-operation and Development's Due Diligence Guidance, applies to all segments in the supply chain and focuses on the 3T's (tungsten, tantalum and tin) and gold but that may be extended to any natural resource funding conflict; and further urges the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to pledge UK support for EU-level, legally-binding legislation to ensure that natural resources traded by companies and individuals in the UK are sourced responsibly and have not funded conflict or human rights abuses in foreign countries.