TS 10 – International Cooperation
This document provides a detailed report of Thematic Session 10 (International Cooperation) for the
Operational Group (OG) meetings held on Monday 10th November 2014 in support of the European
Innovation Partnership for Raw Materials (EIP for RMs).
Around 20 delegates attended this thematic session meeting, which was moderated by Mr Sebastian
Zaleski (DG ENTR). The participants consisted of members of EIP Operational Group 5 (International
Cooperation) and representatives of relevant Raw Materials Commitments (RMCs), who presented their
Commitments to the Group. The objectives of the meeting were to promote cooperation and possible
clustering of RMCs and to consider how best to enlarge the EIP community. A secondary objective was to
map Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) coverage by the RMCs and identify possible gaps.
Presentations were given by three of the six RMCs (E3M, Metallica, IMAGINe). Whilst the remaining
RMCs (AELPK, EWIT, Platinum Consortium) did not present at the meeting, they were discussed by the
Commission and the Group. The three presented RMCs are quite specific in their geographical scope
(E3M: Gabon; Metallica: Africa and Latin America; IMAGINe: Global scope, but focus on Europe, North
America, Asia-Pacific and Latin America) and project aims (E3M: construction of a school of mining and
metallurgy; Metallica: create a higher education in raw materials task-force; IMAGINe: create an
international platform on industrial minerals). Given the very different target locations and objectives of
the six RMCs covered by this Group, Members agreed that clustering these RMCs would be impractical,
but that there may be some synergies to be had between these RMCs. It was suggested that further cooperation between these RMCs and relevant RMCs from other OGs would be beneficial to the overall EIP
process.
The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) gave a presentation regarding a
prospective new RMC Commitment, the aim of which was to increase natural rubber production in Africa,
reducing European dependence on South-East Asian natural rubber. EU Overseas Development Aid was
suggested as a means of co-funding the project, whilst the Commission may also consider signalling its
support to the Third State involved (Ivory Coast).
In the afternoon, Mr Slavko Solar (DG ENTR) gave a presentation on Commission activity relating to the
EU Raw Material Knowledge Base (EURMKB), noting the international aspect of much of this work.
Mr Zaleski gave a presentation on EU Raw Material Diplomacy (EU RMD). Both presentations were well
received by the Group, with many members interested in attending future EU RMD events. In response
to requests for more Commission support for existing RMCs, Mr Zaleski noted that there would soon be
an EIP web-portal, to further promote collaboration between EIP Members and RMC Members.
The meeting concluded with a summing-up by the designated rapporteur, Ms Sònia Clarena Barón:
 The Commission’s presentations on EURMKB and EU RMD were interesting and relevant.
 This OG is an umbrella group/horizontal group and should work to support the other OGs.
 There is a need for a clearer link between being recognised as an RMC and receiving funding (notably
Horizon-2020 funding).
 A follow-up event (similar to today’s meeting) may be of use (in several months’ time).
 Awareness of the EIP and its activities needs to be raised with companies, banks and Member State
regions.
 Greater EIP co-operation with economically-advanced countries is needed.
At the end of the meeting, Mr Zaleski thanked members for their participation, comments and questions.
He summarised the future EIP timeline. There will be an Annual Conference held in mid-January 2015 (1314 January), with the next round of OG meetings taking place in February 2015.