Steffen van der Velde

One of the most important issues is the local creation of value in the resource-rich developing states. For me personally the crucial question is whether European Union should pursue these raw materials as the Chinese are doing it with less attention to human rights, environment and social issues and more focused on safeguarding its own supply. There is a dilemma situation between creating access to these raw materials and adhering to the EU’s own standards. Natural resources should be valued according to their scarcity.

In my PhD thesis, I work on the following topic: As laid down in the Lisbon Treaties, the EU has a legal obligation to promote the sustainable development of the Earth and the sustainable management of natural resources. Whereas the EU is relatively' resource-poor', it is to a large extend dependent on the import of certain mineral raw material, and especially' rare earths', from developing States. The European Commission is thus on the one hand prone to create access to such material in Developing States, but on the other hand bound by Treaty law to sustainable development objectives. Considering the current realities of a shifting geopolitical climate, economic constraints and pressures from the private sector, can the EU live up to the obligations with regard to sustainable management of natural resources in third States as laid down in the Treaties?

T.M.C. ASSER INSTITUUT

Institute for Private and Public International Law

International Commercial Arbitration and European Law

My contact: s.van.der.velde@asser.nl

Website: http://www.asser.nl/