26/06/2020

“Why the EU may need to revive mining to go green” – Interview published in Politico

“We’re supposed to produce batteries and wind turbines now, but everything we use to make them comes from China,” European People’s Party MEP Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou told POLITICO, arguing that Brussels’ crisis recovery plans should help strengthen the bloc’s strategic autonomy in producing these metals. The COVID-19 crisis sharply exposed the EU’s dependency on materials from abroad.

“We need to make sure we don’t have the same problem we had earlier this year, and that we have secure access to these minerals,” the Greek MEP said. “This is something that makes sense in terms of energy security, but also in terms of jobs. We’re importing steel and aluminum from heavily subsidized Chinese firms while closing smelters with far higher emissions standards over here.”

“We started the European project focusing on steel and coal as critical materials. Coal is out, but steel and other raw materials are just as critical as ever,” she said. “The Green Deal is unachievable without this material … It’s difficult to make an omelette without breaking some eggs.”

Visit the POLITICO site or download the interview here.