Raw materials: the foundation of a resilient and thriving Europe
EUsalt joined Euromines and six other European associations in welcoming the Commission Communication “Critical Raw Materials Resilience: Charting a Path towards greater Security and Sustainability” and the launch of the European Raw Materials Alliance.
The open letter addressed to the European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič and the Commissioners Thierry Breton and Virginijus Sinkevičius underlines the importance of the mineral raw materials sector for the European economy and society.
Raw materials are used in a multitude of products and, with the steady increase in global population, their demand is only set to grow. The ongoing COVID-19 health crisis is emphasizing the crucial role of the medical and pharmaceutical sectors, which rely heavily on raw materials such as sodium chloride (salt). About 85% of medicines, including many lifesaving drugs, are produced via chlorine chemistry. Approximately 25% of medical devices such as blood bags, sterile tubing, heart catheters, prosthetics and X-ray films contain chlorine.
