Policy area: Industry policy
The EU is dependent on the import of important minerals. EU’s raw materials initiative requires a lowered import need and a growth within self-sufficiency of metals and minerals for the Union. To provide the higher levels of self-sufficiency of minerals and materials within the EU needed for mobile phoned and batteries there needs to be, outside of recycling, an increase of exploitation of minerals within the Union. Northern Sweden has a key role in this with its unique supply of metal and minerals. EU’s access to raw materials is a vital part of its climate adaptation and will contribute in a number of ways in regard to reaching a climate neutral Europe.
Between 12-13 of June the The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, held their third international meeting on mining in regions and cities. The two previous meetings took place in Chile and Australia so it was the first time the event was arranged in Europe where Skellefteå, together with Region Västerbotten stood as hosts. About 25 different nationalities participated, where a mix of actors from the public and private sector as well as society with different connections to the mining industry got togheter.
To create a Europe that can sustain the demand of batteries that rises with the change to green energy in for example the automotive sector, the European Investment bank granted a loan of 350 million euro to the company Northvolt, that is planning to build the biggest battery factory in Skellefteå in Västerbotten. Northvolt´s goal is to create the world’s most environmentally friendly battery production.
Europaforum Northern Sweden arranged a seminar in Brussels about Swedish forestry and its importance for the development of the bio economy, on November 28 in Brussels.
During its plenary session in Piteå on Februari 26, 2016, Europaforum Norra Sverige (EFNS) adopted a position paper opposing cascading.
07 Mar 2016 European Commission visit to northern Sweden
04 Jan 2016 SSAB - A highly specialized steel company
02 Dec 2015 Boliden - one of the world's largest mining and smelting companies
26 Nov 2015 North Sweden premiere a series of articles on Raw Materials in Northern Sweden
26 Apr 2015 NSPA seminar with the OECD in Piteå
23 Mar 2015 NSPA has formally initiated the work with the OECD study
09 Feb 2015 The Future of navigation in the North 2015
11 Dec 2014 Luleå University of Technology in billion EU-investment
12 Nov 2014 The Silver Road Corridor - strengthening regional cooperation
23 Oct 2014 Sustainable mining in Northern Sweden
06 Jul 2014 The Impact of Culture - Creative businesses for sustainable cities
