On 9 December 2024, the Canada EU Trade and Investment Association (CEUTIA) organized the second episode of the new CETA Series entitled, “Exploring the Canada-EU Raw Materials Partnership”. This event took place during the European Union’s Raw Materials Week and was organized on behalf of the Canadian Mission to the European Union.
This gathering brought together prominent government leaders, experts, and private sector representatives to address the strategic challenges and opportunities for the Canada-EU raw materials partnership.
Canada’s Ambassador to the EU, Dr. Ailish Campbell delivered a welcome address in which she emphasized that Canada’s 2023 Critical Minerals Strategy reaffirms Canada’s commitment to global security in collaboration with the EU and other allies.
A keynote address was delivered by Laurel Broten, CEO of Invest in Canada. Ms. Broten presented Canada’s value proposition in the critical minerals sector. She highlighted Canada as the ideal destination for strategic investments in mining, citing its leadership in sustainability, use of clean energy, and operations with low greenhouse gas emissions – key elements to meet the expectations of international markets.
The event then heard the first expert panel examining the Canada-Raw Materials Partnership from a Geopolitical Perspective. This panel, moderated by Kait Bolongaro, Europe Managing Editor, MLex was comprised of:
Magdalena Miśkiewicz, Team leader European Commission, DG Trade, Unit E3: Industry, Goods, Energy, Customs, and Origin
Heather Exner-Pirot, Special Advisor – Economic Transition, Business Council of Canada
Florian Anderhuber, Deputy Director General, Director Energy & Climate, Euromines
Spencer Page, Lead for UK and EU, Corporate Affairs, Vale Base Metals
The panel considered the objectives of the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act which, among other things, sets a goal to increase diversification of the EU’s international sources for critical raw materials and Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy which aims to increase sustainable mining in Canada thus contributing to global security and partnership with allies. The discussion focused around how these objectives were mutually supportive, but also the challenges in operationalizing them with new investment and business relationships, particularly with an uncertain geopolitical environment and difficult market price dynamics in many minerals. Also discussed was how, and to what extent, the EU and Canada might work cooperatively in other countries or regions given that Canada alone was unlikely to supply the EU with all of its critical mineral needs.
The second panel, also moderated by Ms. Bolongaro, was entitled “The Canada Raw Material Advantage” and was comprised:
Ben Chalmers, Senior Vice President, Mining Association of Canada
Jonathan Vanherberghen, Director External Affairs Europe, Rio Tinto
Katie Fedosenko, Director, ESG Engagement, Teck Resources
David Anderson, Managing Director, Saskatchewan Germany Office, Counsellor, Embassy of Canada to Germany
This second panel looked at the range of approaches business and governments in Canada have developed to ensure that mining projects are of the highest quality in terms of the environment and local population and otherwise assuage concerns surrounding mining and perceived negative impacts on local communities.
The panel discussed some key mining projects in Canada of Rio Tinto and Teck Resources, as well as the efforts made by the Saskatchewan government and the leadership role of the Mining Association of Canada in the development of the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) standards which itself is among the key standards behind a new consolidated standards initiative.
Mark Camilleri, CEUTIA President, opened and closed the event, before inviting in-person guests to join in a cocktail networking session.
This event was organized by the Canada EU Trade and Investment Association (CEUTIA) on behalf of the Canadian Mission to the EU in cooperation with the support of the Business Council of Canada and MLex.
The event was sponsored by Vale Base Metals and the Province of Saskatchewan.
