The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently in discussion with the European Union (EU) to establish a partnership on the responsible value chain of critical minerals. After the visit of the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and the European Commissioners Jutta Urpilanen and Thierry Breton in March 2023 to Kinshasa, a team was formed to negotiate with EU officials to conclude a memorandum of understanding before September 2023.
This partnership would enable the establishment in the DRC of a responsible value chain for critical minerals, thus meeting the priority objectives of the African Union’s 2063 agenda. It would also accelerate the ecological transition in the DRC and in the EU.
Head of State Félix Tshisekedi believes that the partnership sought requires the involvement of all the sectoral ministries concerned, including the Governance Unit which is housed in the Strategic Council for Strategic Intelligence. The September deadline, which corresponds to the holding in Kinshasa of the DRC-Africa Forum devoted to battery methods, is an opportunity for the DRC to promote such an agreement.
Meeting at the Kinshasa economic forum in March 2023, the European Commission and the DRC underlined the importance of this partnership to strengthen the ties between the two parties around common interests and objectives. The European “Global Gateway” investment strategy is also put forward to restore sustainable and reliable connections that serve people and the planet.
In conclusion, establishing a partnership with the EU on the responsible value chain of critical minerals is an important step for the DRC in its ecological transition and in its relations with the EU. The negotiation involves the participation of all relevant sector ministries to reach a memorandum of understanding before September 2023