Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on further cooperation in deep-sea mining between industrial stakeholders in France and Germany (10/21/2015)

From left: Sigmar Gabriel (Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Germany); Leonard Weixler (President, DeepSea Mining Alliance, Germany); Uwe Beckmeyer (Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Federal Government Co-ordinator for the Maritime Industry, Germany); Francis Vallat (Founding  President, French Maritime Cluster, France), Dr. Thomas Gäckle (Deputy Director General Raw Material Policy, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Germany), Alain Liger (Ingenieur General des Mines, Secretaire General, Comite pour les Metaux Stratetiques; Ministry for the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs, France)

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Based on a unique and coherent set of resources, skills and expertise concerning seabed and mining operations industrial stakeholders from France and Germany have decided to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The French Maritime Cluster (CMF) and the DeepSea Mining (DSMA) are signing this MoU on industrial, technological and scientific cooperation in deep-sea mining during the 9th National Maritime Conference on 20^th October 2015 in Bremerhaven.

The planned cooperation plan will possibly be elaborated for joint RTD, exploration and Joint Industry Projects, joint marketing activities, environmental impact assessment studies and the development of innovative and sustainable deep- sea technologies.

With respect to several EU activities the parties are discussing possible options to join deep sea mining forces of the industrial stakeholders in France and Germany in order to achieve higher impact strength for deep-sea mining in the EU and push for a much more ambitious vision from the EC.

Possible deep-sea mining partners in France and in Germany would be, for example, the members of the French Maritime Cluster and of the DeepSea Mining Alliance. French and German companies could form the core of an obvious network in an internationally-based deep-sea mining strategy.