JOINT POLICY BRIEF - EU Responsible Mineral Sourcing Regulation: civil society response to the Council mandate agreed by COREPER on 7 December 2015

EurAc and its partners are deeply concerned that the Council mandate agreed by COREPER on 7 December 2015 has proposed reopening and weakening the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, an established standard negotiated and agreed by industry, governments and civil society. This is of little help to the EU companies that are already implementing it, and limits the effectiveness of the EU’s response to the trade in conflict minerals. At the contrary, Member States should show leadership and engage in a constructive dialogue that makes it clear to companies, investors, consumers, and those affected by the trade in conflict minerals, that the EU is firm in its commitment to more responsible and transparent supply chains.