African national policy and legal framework

To turn uranium mining into revenue for development, the EU can help African countries and governments. National mining laws the laws should be improved and sound mining policies developed. Fair mining contracts between governments and mining companies are a crucial part of this.

The Cotonou Partnership Agreement as a tool
This agreement between the EU and (amongst others) African governments says that " the principles of sustainable management of natural resources and the environment shall be applied and integrated at every level of the partnership". However, Fatal Transactions has argued in its memorandum on the European Union's contribution to the sustainable management of natural resources that these promises have not been put into practice.

Putting the money where its mouth is
Therefore, the EU should put the money where its mouth is and provide support to African governments to negotiate fair mining contracts with uranium mining companies, review existing unfair mining contracts and to increase tax revenue from the uranium mining and milling sector. Furthermore, by supporting African governments the EU can contribute to the formulation of sound environmental legal and policy frameworks that regulate the ways in which uranium mining and milling companies deal with their waste-rock, tailings, and water demand.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)
Additionally, the EU must put pressure on African governments to subscribe to the Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)

• to enforce financial reporting by uranium mining and milling companies, and
• to increase transparency in mining contracts, tax deals, and revenue payments