11 December 2024
Today, in the framework of Raw Materials Week, the European Commission has officially endorsed the roadmap for its strategic partnership with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on raw materials, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to secure, sustainable, and resilient value chains for critical raw materials. The partnership aims to support both the EU’s strategic autonomy and the economic development of the DRC, particularly in the mining sector, through concrete projects and investments.
The roadmap, endorsed following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Global Gateway Forum October 2023, marks the beginning of a comprehensive partnership aiming at sustainable development, covering the entire raw materials value chain - from extraction and processing to recycling and value-added industries. The partnership will be implemented through a concrete roadmap of joint action developed through the Team Europe approach.
Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela stated: "This EU-DRC partnership is a concrete example of what we can achieve when we work together towards a common goal. We are not only securing and diversifying the supply of critical raw materials essential for the green transition, but we are also developing economic opportunities, local jobs, and sustainable value chains in the DRC. This roadmap represents our commitment to building long-term, resilient partnerships that allow both local and global communities thrive."
Under Global Gateway, the strategic objectives of the roadmap aim to reduce investment risks, promote sustainable and resilient value chains, enhance local capacity building to ensure the DRC benefits from its resources, and strengthen research collaboration.
Background
The now-endorsed roadmap will ensure that DRC's resources serve to underpin sustainable, fair, inclusive and peaceful socioeconomic development, whilst simultaneously enabling the EU to deliver on its ambitious Green Deal, empowering the green and digital transitions in both regions.
The EU needs to secure a sustainable supply of raw materials, especially critical raw materials, as an essential prerequisite for delivering on green and clean energy objectives. As part of the Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials, the European Commission has already built partnerships with resource-rich third countries, making use of all external policy instruments and respecting its international obligations. The Commission has established fourteen strategic partnerships on raw materials so far. The partnerships allow both sides to advance trade and investments into a secure, sustainable and resilient raw materials value chain, which is key to achieving the transition to climate-neutral and digitalised economies.
Global Gateway
Global Gateway is a new European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world. Global Gateway aims to mobilise up to €300 billion in investments through a Team Europe approach, bringing together the EU, its Member States and their financial and development institutions. It seeks a transformational impact in the digital, climate and energy, transport, health, and education and research sectors. The focus is on smart investments in quality infrastructure, respecting the highest social and environmental standards, in line with the EU’s interests and values: rule of law, human rights and international norms and standards.
Source: European Commission