Strengthening Canada–Europe Collaboration: Recap of the European Diplomatic Roundtable                  

April 13, 2026

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In February, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Critical Minerals Council hosted the European Diplomatic Roundtable, organized with the support of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Canada (EUCCAN).

The event brought together Canadian and European stakeholders to advance dialogue on critical minerals, with a focus on policy alignment, innovation and sustainability. The roundtable served as a platform to build on existing strategic partnerships and recent bilateral agreements, reinforcing the importance of resilient supply chains and sustainable resource development in an increasingly competitive global environment.

Opening Remarks

The session opened with remarks from Catherine Fortin Lefaivre, Vice President, International Policy and Global Partnerships at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and Vasileios Tsianos, Member of the Board of Directors at the EUCCAN. Both speakers highlighted the importance of deepening Canada–EU collaboration to support secure, sustainable and competitive critical minerals supply chains.

Panel 1 | Strengthening Canada–EU Trade and Collaboration on Critical Minerals

The first panel focused on strengthening Canada–EU engagement in critical minerals trade and policy alignment, including the implications of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and opportunities for Canadian industry. Moderated by David Anonychuk, Global Vice President, Metallurgy and Consulting at SGS, the panel featured André von Walter, Head of Trade and Economic Section, Delegation of the European Union to Canada alongside Vasileios Tsianos who, in addition to his role at EUCCAN, also serves as Senior Vice President at Neo Performance Materials. Discussions centred on enhancing regulatory cooperation, improving resource security, and ensuring sustainability remains central to critical minerals development. Speakers also emphasized opportunities for Canadian companies to better position themselves within evolving EU policy frameworks.

Panel 2 | Advancing Canada’s Critical Minerals Partnerships with European Allies

The second panel explored Canada’s expanding network of critical minerals partnerships with key European countries, including France, Germany, and Italy. Moderated by Marcella Munro, Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Teck Resources, the discussion featured representatives from European diplomatic missions: Morgan Larhant, Chef de Service Économique Régional at the Embassy of France in Canada; Karina Häuslmeier, Head of Science and Economy Section, Embassy of Germany in Canada, and Matteo Gazzetti, Second Secretary, Head of Trade, Economic and Commercial Affairs, Embassy of Italy in Canada. Panellists highlighted recent bilateral agreements and emphasized the importance of aligning regulatory and industry approaches. The conversation also identified emerging opportunities for funding, investment and cross-border collaboration supporting Canadian participation in European critical minerals value chains.

Fireside Chat | Canada–UK Critical Minerals Partnership

The event also featured a fireside chat on Canada–UK cooperation in critical minerals. Moderated by Jeff Gaulin, General Manager – Corporate Affairs and Communications at Vale Base Metals, the discussion with David Prodger, British Deputy High Commissioner to Canada, focused on strengthening bilateral ties, improving regulatory alignment and deepening trade and investment cooperation in the sector. The exchange underscored the strategic importance of the Canada–UK relationship in advancing shared economic and resource security priorities.

Closing Remarks

The event concluded with remarks from Bryan N. Detchou, Senior Director of Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. He emphasized the value of ongoing dialogue with international partners and the role of the Critical Minerals Council in convening stakeholders to advance shared goals.

The full photo gallery can be found here.

You can learn more about the work of the Canadian Chamber’s Critical Minerals Council here.