Photo: Fairphone CC BY-NC-SA

Civil society organisations from across Europe gathered in Brussels on 5 May 2022 to discuss improved coordination on EU policies related to the sourcing of raw materials for batteries and electronics. Participants included several GoodElectronics members and allies.

Photo: Fairphone CC BY-NC-SA

Aim of the meeting was to get to know who is working on which EU policies and see how advocacy on these in Brussels can be streamlined and improved.

The meeting started with a landscaping exercise, mapping all the policies, regulations and other initiatives related to raw materials. Participating organisations noted on which of them they are currently working, or plan to in the near future. Lobby and advocacy priorities were put on the table, as well as (missed) opportunities in terms of trends, political space, and capacity.

Given the rising importance of the issue, the organisations explored options to have a permanent coordinator on raw materials in Brussels to keep all informed, and to speak on behalf of the coalition.