The European Non-Ferrous Metals industry welcomes the issuing of the Roadmap on Resource Efficiency and feels that the specificities and performance of its materials can significantly contribute to a resource-efficient and more circular economy

Non-ferrous metals are not only indispensable for many applications in our daily lives, they are also essential in the transition process towards a more efficient and low-carbon economy, and they can be recycled again and again! Eurometaux therefore welcomes the strong focus on recycling in the Roadmap!

Eurometaux welcomes the long-term vision provided by the Roadmap and believes that only a step-wise approach will guarantee sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU. It also welcomes the development of correct indicators, given that a true understanding of the material flows and of the industrial value chains needs to be the basis for any sound policy. It therefore believes that indicators and targets should only be defined on that basis and through a constructive dialogue with stakeholders.

Innovation undoubtedly constitutes an essential leverage in support of the technological move towards more efficiency. Eurometaux fully supports the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials and the Public-Private Partnerships to be adopted.

Eurometaux believes that the ambitious timetable foreseen in the Roadmap should not overlook the complexity of some of the approaches proposed, including the fiscal and economic instruments, so as to ensure that the measures are cost-efficient and deliver tangible results.

Finally, Eurometaux is concerned about two specific aspects that merit further attention: the end-of-waste criteria, which in our view are opening the door to more exports of valuable materials outside Europe - and hence to less recycling in Europe - and the reference to the REACH process, which is confusing, as it stigmatises substances without being backed up by any real scientific procedures.

Eurometaux is very keen to contribute to the reflection process leading to the implementation of resource efficiency policies, and to participate in the foreseen stakeholders’ platforms.

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For further information, please contact:

Eurometaux – European Association of Metals

Annick Carpentier Tel. +32 2 775 63 14 E-mail: mailto:carpentier@eurometaux.be

Eurometaux website: http://www.eurometaux.eu

Avenue de Broqueville 12 B-1150 Bruxelles

Tel : (32-2) 775 63 11 Fax : 779 05 23

e-mail : eurometaux@eurometaux.be

www.eurometaux.eu