Transparency standards in the raw materials sector - German government blocks EU plans for more transparency in the raw materials sector
April 13.04.2012, XNUMX, (Transparency) - The organizations Transparency International Germany, ONE, Global Witness, MISEREOR as well as “Bread for the World” and the Global Policy Forum Europe expect the Federal Government to give up its resistance to binding transparency standards in the raw materials sector. In order to reduce the negative effects of the exploitation of mineral and fossil raw materials, companies should disclose payments to the governments of resource-rich countries for every mine and every other project.
This proposal of the European Commission is now supported by an initial positioning of the European Parliament. Germany has therefore taken a step further into isolation with its negative attitude at European level.
Prevent misuse
Simon Taylor, founding member of Global Witness: “Transparency is the prerequisite for putting a stop to abuse. This involves enormous flows of money: the annual raw material exports from Africa amount to around US $ 246 billion. This is almost six times the development aid provided of around US $ 44 billion. "
“The so-called resource curse must become a resource blessing. An important prerequisite for this is more transparency in payment flows. It is good that the EU Commission has included forestry on the list of reportable industries. In view of the devastating development of land grabbing by agribusiness groups, however, these should also fall under the planned reporting obligations, ”emphasizes Edda Müller, chairwoman of the anti-corruption organization Transparency International Germany.
Soften proposed rules
Tobias Kahler from ONE says: “Several raw materials companies are doing everything they can to soften the proposed rules. This did not succeed in the European Parliament. Even the home countries of the large raw materials companies support the project. ”In addition to the need for project-specific disclosure, which companies want to prevent, Kahler adds:“ We want a transparency rule with substance. The federal government must not allow itself to be made the spearhead of oil multinationals. "
Michael Hippler, head of the Africa department at MISEREOR, points out that more transparency of payment flows is a decisive first step so that the population in resource-rich developing countries can better enforce their human rights - including food, clean water and health. "The point is that the citizens there are put in a position to demand accountability from their governments about the amount and in particular about the use of the income from this sector," said Michael Hippler.
(Pressebox)
