The effect of policy choices on mineral availability

Slavko V. Šolar, Deborah Shields
2006 Geologija  
During the late 1980s and early 1990s almost 100 nations introduced new or revised existing, mineral policies and laws. We are now in another period of revision, particularly in the Eastern European nations. National mineral policies in these countries are being, or recently have been, reconsidered for several reasons. First, policies from the prior political era were not consistent with market driven economic policies. Second, they did not reflect the regulatory framework or policy directives
more » ... f the new, integrating Europe. Finally, old policies did not address the concerns, issues and needs of societies today, primary among these being the desire for a sustainable future. In this paper we argue that each country's mix of imported and domestically produced minerals should be economically profitable, socially acceptable, and in compliance with sustainable development principles. In this paper we focus on the ongoing revision of mineral policies in Eastern European countries transitioning to market-driven economies. We first review basic policy concepts, placing emphasis on the purpose and scope of mineral policies. We then briefly describe EU positions on sustainability, and economic and mineral policy. This is followed by a general review of the mineral policies and management situation in the transition economies of Eastern Europe. We conclude that of number of the current policies have the potential to limit the availability of minerals to countries in this region rather than ensuring their supply. We also identify several policy trends that are inconsistent with sustainability principles. Kratka vsebina Koncem osemdesetih in v za~etku devetdesetih let prej{njega stoletja je skoraj 100 dr'av spremenilo, obnovilo svoje politike in zakonodajo na podro~ju rudarstva. V za~etku novega tiso~letja smo, predvsem v Vzhodni Evropi, ponovno v fazi prenove. Nacionalne rudarske politike so bile obnovljene zaradi razli~nih razlogov. Prvi~, politike izpred devetdesetih, niso bile primerljive s politikami tr'nega gospodarstva, drugi~, politike niso ustrezale zakonodajnem okviru integrirane Evrope, kon~no stare politike niso upo{tevale skrbi, potreb in odprtih vpra{anj dana{nje dru'be, predvsem 'elje po prihodnosti temelje~i na na~elih trajnostnega razvoja. V ~lanku smo se osredoto~ili na potekajo~o revizijo rudarskih politik v Vzhodni Evropi v prehodnem obdobju, na poti k tr'nem gospodarstvu. Prvo smo pregledali temeljne koncepte politik, s posebnim ozirom na namen in podro~je delovanja rudarskih politik. Potem na kratko opi{emo stali{~a Evropske Unije v zvezi s trajnostnim razvojem, gospodarsko in rudarsko politiko. Temu sledi splo{en pregled rudarskih politik in gospodarjenja z mineralnimi surovinami v gospodarstvih Vzhodne Evrope. Zaklju~ujemo z ugotovitvijo, da {tevilne rudarske politike vsebujejo usmeritve, ki lahko na regionalni ali dr'avni ravni bolj omejujejo dostopnost do mineralnih surovin kot oskrbo z njimi. Poleg tega tudi ugotavljamo, da {tevilni trendi rudarskih politik niso skladni z na~eli trajnostnega razvoja.
doi:10.5474/geologija.2006.014 fatcat:nqpw2gwdr5gdplu4l2pqf4gl4y