Natural Stone as top issue in Europe accepted

How important Natural Stone is knows everybody in the European Stone family. This is however not the case among the European decision makers. Quite often Natural Stone finds itself in the debate with other raw materials like uranium, metals or aggregates. This is a heavy burden on stone industry as directives or recommendations from the European Community or national, regional and communal bodies put heavy regulations on the quarrying, processing and application of Natural Stone.

No wonder that the questioning of successful lobbying for Natural Stone issues has been the subject on many occasions within and outside EUROROC. The Finnish presidency of the European Union until December 31, 2006 was seen an unique chance to promote Natural Stone as Finland has traditionally a positive and rational attitude towards raw materials. It took EUROROC more than a year of preparation to inform and made aware the Finnish administration to use its time to help to convince the other member states that all issues of Natural Stone should be dealt with the necessary approach.

These efforts had be paid off on Nov. 3rd, 2006 when the Finnish Primeminister, Mr. Matti Vanhanen, welcomed a delegation of EUROROC with President Mr. Kurt Johansson, Mr. Reijo Vauhkonen, Vice-President, Mr. Pekka Jauhiainen, Managing director of the Finnish Natural Stone Association and Prof. Dr. Gerd Merke, Secretary General. No doubt, everybody was proud as EUROROC was the only European Industry federation that got to meet the EU-President in the area of raw materials.

The delegation outlined the importance of Natural Stone for the European culture and economy and handed a statement over to Primeminister Vanhanen to underline the importance of stone industry. All relevant questions from the opening of a quarry, processing and application problems up to the necessity of qualified education had been discussed. The Primeminister not only listened carefully to the concerns of our industry and asked the right questions, but promised to pass on our subject to his member colleagues on the EU Counsel. Mr. Vanhanen agreed that the permit procedure for the opening of quarries should be limited to a foreseeable period and everything should be done to make Natural Stone from Europe in and outside Europe as competitive as possible. Artificial hindrances should be removed.

The contact will be intensified on the working level. EUROROC is optimistic to continue successful lobby work. This is the first step, others will follow.

For further information please contact:
Gerd Merke, Secretary General,
Tel: + 49 611 97712 11
gerd.merke@zvk-steinmetz.de