European Minerals Forum looks to future

The European Minerals Forum in November last year encouraged delegates to look at the positive opportunities presented by recession

The European aggregates industry has suffered heavily during the current recession, reporting an average decline of about 20-25% in 2009 compared to 2008, according to the 2886 European Aggregates Association (UEPG). But the European Minerals Forum held in Brussels on 25 November 2009 focused on the positive with a topic of 'Turning Recession into Opportunities'.

More than 100 delegates gathered at the event where a range of speakers presented their 'creative thinking' on improving health and safety, the environment and productivity as well as stimulating sustainable development. The event started with a key note speech from UEPG president Jim O'Brien which set the tone for the rest of the event.

'Ensuring Access to Essential Raw Materials' was the theme of the European Minerals Forum 2008 and the subject was also discussed at the 2009 edition. According to the UEPG, despite continuous dialogue with the EU Institutions, it is still a key issue for the industry.

Maria Spiliopoulou-Kaparia from the 1022 European Commission, DG Entreprise & Industry, presented the latest developments of the Raw Materials Initiative. She underlined the need to promote sustainable access to raw materials in development policy and to give impetus to resource efficiency.

643 Cemex vice president of communication and public affairs Tim Stokes then explained the issue and what is at stake. He also gave the industry's recommendations, namely to the need to simplify the regulatory framework, to recognise that sand, gravel and crushed rock can be strategically critical at a local level, the need for a EU Minerals Policy and the need to promote recycled materials.

As a top priority for the sector, maintaining the health, safety and quality of life of all stakeholders ensures a long-term vision of our industry and is a return on investment. Brenda O'Brien who is Brussels liaison officer for the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work (OSHA), introduced the work of the agency and explained the high cost of poor maintenance.

725 Lafarge vice president of health and safety Geraint Morris detailed the key benefits of this attitude towards each type of stakeholder, advocating focusing on solutions and improvement.

'Stimulating Investment in Sustainable Infrastructures' was the subject of the third challenge presented to delegates. Helmut Morsi, International Transport Relations & 1030 Trans-european transport network policy, DG Energy and Transport, explained the initiatives and developments of his Directorate General.

Eurovia director for 1032 industrial business development and technical resources Max von Devivere gave leads on how to stimulate investment in 1037 Sustainable Construction, including through the use of Warm-Asphalt-Mix.

The fourth session targeted meeting the energy and resource efficiency challenge. In this segment Gunther Wolff from Sustainable Production and Consumption, DG Environment, presented the EU framework for sustainable construction and especially advocated recycling. He underlined the fact that construction activities underpin most other activities in society: economic, social, environmental, safety and health.

Mike Gilbert of 1044 Langstone consulting went on to explain the global challenge of energy-efficiency and how the industry could participate in emissions reduction.

After the presentation by the keynote speakers, participants met in break-out sessions in order to follow up the issues raised by the Commission and each subject. The sessions were organised with a business leader to chair, a guest speaker to outline the challenge and a leading business representative to act as rapporteur to ensure deliverable outcomes. The discussions successfully led to recommendations for the high-level stakeholders of the industry.

This year, the European Platform for Recycled Aggregates (EPRA) co-organised the fifth break-out session of which the theme was 'Practically Stimulating Recycling of Construction and Demolition Waste'. The final session was a new initiative which targeted at promoting recycling in a transversal approach. This new initiative came at a time when recycling has been a focus of discussion in the Commission.

The 1051 European minerals foundation, together with UEPG and its partners from the 1056 Non energy extractive industry panel (NEEIP) are currently studying the recommendations made by the break-out sessions rapporteurs and is investigating ways of taking the proposals forward over the next 12 months.

The next European Minerals Forum will take place on 24 November 2010 in Brussels.