The High North – Top Mining Region of the World Conference at Voksenåsen, Norway, November 14-15 2012
politicians, researches, as well as representatives of the mining industry, have been working together since the beginning of 2011 in order to analyse the existing situation and the influence that the mining sector has on the industrial and societal development in the region, and to come up with a road map for future joint actions, both short- and long-term. Moreover, such a strategy is indispensable in order to ensure that all conflicts of interests that inevitably arise when the mining industry in expanding at such a rapid rate, are being resolved in the best possible way for all parties concerned. Indeed, national legislation in Sweden needs to be adapted in order to provide for a better protection to everyone, whose interests might collide with those of the mining giants. I am talking first and foremost about the indigenous peoples who are indeed a group at risk, when expanding mining fields might undermine traditional semi-nomadic reindeer herding and, by definition, the very traditional lifestyle of the Sami people. May I remind you in this regard that we have 32 Sami villages in Norrbotten. Furthermore, there is also a very real threat to the normal functioning of the space industry in the municipality of Kiruna that needs to keep its 60 000 square meters protected zone around the Esrange space center in order to continue important scientific research, rocket launches and satellite tracking, among other activities, by the way often unique in their kind. Other potential disputes might already exist or arise in the near future. That is why I see it as a direct duty of the regional authorities and my own duty to ensure that mining activities are carried out within the existing legal framework and that this legal framework, when and if needed, is adapted to the rapidly changing context so that the mining sector does not develop to the detriment of the others. It is therefore our ambition to limit the number of cases of eventual conflicts of interests to a strict minimum, and to resolve the existing ones in a timely and efficient manner. Furthermore, the regional mining strategy – that is going to be an integral part of the upcoming national mining strategy – aims, in the long run, at building an attractive and sustainable society and at strengthening well-being in the region, and in the country. Finally, the strategy is also meant to contribute to highlighting the significance of the region, and of Sweden, on the European arena, and to increasing its influence in Europe when it comes to meeting the needs of the European industries in continued supplies of minerals and metals. This final ambition coincides with the priorities of both national and regional chairmanships in the Barents Euro-Arctic and Barents Regional Councils. There is no need to repeat that the Barents region is extremely rich in natural and mineral resources and that there is unfortunately still little recognition of this fact on the European arena. While most looks in Europe, and in the world in general, are directed towards the Arctic, it is important to remember and to remind that the Barents region is an integral part of a larger Arctic region, and that whereas the development of the Arctic is still, in its major part, a matter of the future, the Barents region is already today providing Europe with much needed mineral and natural resources. Allow me a short example. Many of you remember that the EU documented a list of critical raw materials that is being reviewed every five years. A raw material is labeled as critical when the risks for supply shortage and its impact on the economy are higher compared to most of the other raw materials. Practically all of the 14 minerals currently listed as critical, can be found in the Barents region, including rare earth minerals that are utilized in many devices that we use on a daily basis – cell phones, computer memory cards, DVDs, rechargeable batteries and many more. The EU is currently importing almost 95 per cent of the rare earth minerals from China. In general, today EU stands for 20 per cent of the global 3