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The European Union

The European Union (EU) is an active player in the development field, fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries, with the ultimate goal of eradicating extreme poverty. The EU promotes good governance and human and economic development. It also tackles global challenges such as inequalities, poverty reduction, malnutrition, climate change, environmental degradation, ocean issues, migration and forced displacement.

The EU can help its partner countries to develop their mineral resources sustainably through supporting improved local governance and dissemination of responsible mining practices, creating in turn value-added in the mining sector and drivers for economic and social development.

Critical Raw Materials resilience: Charting a Path towards greater Security and Sustainability

Engagement with the EITI

The European Union, represented by the European Commission, supports the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) through funding to the EITI International Management as well as to local programmes in its implementing countries. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is at the heart of the EU’s international cooperation and development policy and is also reflected in the new EU Consensus on Development (2017). The EU’s development assistance is one of the pillars of the EU’s external action alongside foreign, security, and trade policies. 

The European Green Deal is at the forefront of the international efforts to fight climate change, to protect the environment and ecosystems worldwide and to promote inclusive and equitable transitions to low carbon, sustainable and fair green economies. Ensuring the sustainable supply of raw materials, in particular of the critical raw materials necessary for clean and digital technology, is, therefore, one of the prerequisites to make this transition happen.

The European Commission continues to support the EITI International Management through multi-year agreements, with the most recent agreement being signed in December 2019 covering 2020-2022 and totalling to EUR 1 million. The previous grant for 2016-2019 amounted to EUR 750 000 from the European Development Fund, covering the EITI implementation in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. This funding came from the Global Public Goods and Challenges (GPGC) programme. 


International Engagement 

With the Commission Decision of 21.04.2020 on the participation of the European Commission in the EITI, the European Commission has regularised its participation in the EITI as an active member of the Supporting Countries constituency. In this position, it will continue to participate regularly as an observer on the EITI Board. The EU contribution to the EITI International Secretariat has been extended till the end of 2022, with an increase of additional financial support of EUR 500 000.


Support for EITI implementing countries

Several EITI implementing countries are also beneficiaries of EU development assistance programmes. In addition, the European Commission contributes EUR 5 million to the World Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund for the Extractives Global Programmatic Support (EGPS) Programme in support for EITI implementation.

EITI focal contact: Sergio Piazzardi, Policy Officer at the European Commission.