Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-001270/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D), Hilde Vautmans (Renew)
During its meeting on 19 March 2025, Parliament’s Committee on Internal Trade held an exchange of views with representatives of the Commission on the EU-Rwanda memorandum of understanding on sustainable raw materials value chains. During that discussion, Commission representatives stated that EU financing for mining projects in Rwanda is strictly limited to mines for non-conflict minerals. Since 2023, the EU has been co-financing a project with an estimated budget of EUR 4.15 million on the sustainable development of the Rwandese mining sector with the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB). Given the fact that, in accordance with Council Implementing Regulation 2025/509, the EU has imposed sanctions on the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RMB for his role in exploiting the armed conflict and instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including through the illicit exploitation or trading of natural resources, we would like to ask the Commission the following questions:
- 1.Is it correct that the EU is funding mining activity with the RMB in cooperation with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development?
- 2.How does the Commission guarantee that funds are not being misused by the RMB for trafficking minerals to Rwanda from DRC mines exploited by M23 rebels?
- 3.Will the Commission suspend funding for the project with the RMB now that the EU has imposed sanctions on the CEO of the aforementioned company?
Submitted: 26.3.2025