At the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) 2026 convention, Euromines and the Canada EU Trade and Investment Association (CEUTIA) hosted a high-level side event featuring representatives from the Government of Canada and the European Commission, alongside two panel discussions bringing together EU and Canadian leaders to explore business, trade and financing opportunities under the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
.Key takeaways:
- CETA is delivering concrete value, improving market access and reinforcing EU–Canada supply chain integration in strategic raw materials.
- Targeted regulatory alignment is still needed to address remaining blind spots and unlock further investment potential.
- Investment incentives and financing tools, including tax credits and blended finance models, can play a critical role in strengthening project bankability.
- Operationalisation is essential: policy ambition must translate into practical, investable projects on the ground.
The discussions underscored that sustained, solutions-oriented dialogue between policymakers, industry and investors is vital to securing resilient, competitive, and sustainable raw materials value chains.
Our speakers included Callie Stewart, Mission of Canada to the European Union and Madalina Ivanica, European Commission.
Panel 1: Unlocking Market Opportunities under CETA
This panel discussion explored how CETA strengthens:
- Market access and regulatory alignment.
- EU–Canada integration across the raw materials value chain.
- Sustainable sourcing for Europe’s clean energy and battery industries.
Speakers included members of Euromines and our Sustainable Mining Initiative:
- Anna Sobieraj-Kozakiewicz, KGHM Polska Miedź
- Paul Ferneyhough, Eldorado Gold Corporation
- Ryan Hnaley, FLSmidth A/S
- Jan Klawitter, Anglo American plc
- Piia Karhu, Metso Corporation
- Mark Camilleri, CEUTIA (moderator)
Panel 2: Financing Opportunities for Strategic Raw Materials Projects
This panel discussion focused on funding solutions to accelerate mining and refining projects, covering:
- Public and private financing instruments
- Investment de-risking strategies
- Mobilization of private capital
Speakers included one of Euromines’ members:
- Francis Lacasse, ABB Ltd.
- Dejan Velichkov, Invest in Canada
- Adam Webb, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Rafal Rybacki, European Investment Bank (EIB)
- Teo Dechev, Mundoro Capital
- Dr. Florian Anderhuber, Euromines (moderator)
Advancing Europe’s Strategic Raw Materials Agenda
PDAC 2026 reinforced that trade agreements, policy alignment, and financing solutions must work together to secure Europe’s raw materials base.