26 January 2011
14:00 - 16:00

at

European Commission Representation in Belgium

73, rue Archimède
Brussels, Belgium

with

Roderick Eggert
Professor and Director of the Division of Economics and Business,
Colorado School of Mines

Paul Anciaux
Policy Officer - Mining, metals, raw materials,
DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission

René van Sloten
Chairman, BUSINESSEUROPE Market Access Working Group

and

Alan Price
Partner and Co-Chair of the International Trade Practice Wiley Rein LLP, Washington DC

Chair:

William C. Ramsay
Director, Ifri Energy Program

With the development and increasing commercialization of cutting edge technologies and growing competition from emerging economies, Europe is ever-more vulnerable to supply disruptions of rare, geographically concentrated raw materials. The so-called "rare earths" are but one among many. In 2008, the European Commission identified 14 such critical materials necessary for the health of European industry but subject to severe supply risks due to geopolitical-economic factors. Both Europe and the United States face similar challenges in securing these critical raw materials to support the growth of enterprise and industry. By bringing together perspectives from both sides of the Atlantic, this conference aims to discuss some of these challenges, the effects on industry, and policy options available for ensuring better securities of supply - in particular the options examined in a special Communication by the European Commission on raw materials scheduled for adoption on 26 January.

In cooperation with the U.S. Mission to the EU
and with the kind support of
the Representation of the European Commission in Belgium