Cyanide-based mining has no place in Europe

The plenary session of the European Parliament supported with a sweeping majority the report on the implementation of the Mining Waste Directive of Christian Democrat (Fidesz-KDNP) MEP György Hölvényi. In addition to advocating for greater protections for human health and emphasis on resource optimization, the EP once again called on the European Commission to ban cyanide-based mining in the EU.

At the Brussels plenary session, EP representatives – by a vote of 566 in favor, 8 against and 20 abstentions – supported the recommendations of György Hölvényi on the improvement of the European regulations on mining waste. “Although most of the Member States have accepted the recommendations defined in the directive, their implementation and monitoring remain a problem,” said the EPP Rapporteur, summarizing the results of the research that has lasted for almost two years. It is especially concerning, according to Hölvényi, that deficiencies were found in the authorization procedure for so-called “Class A” waste storage sites, which bear the highest risk for human health and environment as well as in drafting emergency plans.

György Hölvényi recalled that the European Parliament – on the initiative of János Áder – requested that the European Commission ban cyanide-based mining technologies in its resolution dated May 5, 2010.

The implementation report that was just accepted also verifies that the European regulation cannot provide necessary protection against the dangers of cyanide-based mining. Members of the European Parliament, regardless of their political group, made it clear once again: they do not want the outdated, wasteful and harmful technology.

Mining waste makes up one third of all waste produced in the EU. European mining continues to turn to lower quality and deeper lying resources, leaving more and more waste and dangerous toxic lakes behind. In order to stop this worrying trend, Hölvényi’s report urges the practical application of cutting-edge inventions.

“Re-processing e-waste could provide much more valuable raw material than classic technologies, which are significantly harder on the environment and more dangerous. Mining waste must be included in the terms of circular economy. Higher environmental protection goals and resource optimization must be given priority, even if they seem to be more expensive in the short run,” the Christian Democrat MEP emphasized.