Meeting of Bilateral Dialogue on Raw Materials

November 17^th, 2020 (by videoconference)

Joint Report

The third meeting of the Bilateral Dialogue on Raw Materials established under Article 25.4 of CETA took place in a digital format on 17 November 2020, hosted by the EU.

1.  Opening remarks and policy updates

Policy updates focused on Covid-19 impact on the raw materials value chains, recovery patterns and plans and latest developments on critical raw materials’ policy and strategies from both parties, in particular in the context of achieving a climate-neutral economy.

2.  Shaping the Strategic Partnership on critical raw materials

Both parties expressed interest in establishing a partnership on critical raw materials and agreed:

• CETA, in general, and the raw materials dialogue, in particular, provide a solid framework for developing the partnership, based on common interests, complementarities and shared values;
• The initial main axes for this partnership are: 1) integration of respective raw materials value chains, 2) cooperation on R&I and 3) aligning environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria and standards

3.  Coordination in international fora

Both parties consider the Trilateral EU-US-Japan Conference on Critical Materials an important forum for addressing global challenges along critical raw materials value chains with like-minded countries. Expansion of this forum to include Canada and Australia as full members represents an important step to ensure greater coordination going forward.

Both parties agreed that it is important to strengthen cooperation on international standards for raw materials.

4.  Innovation Exchange

Both parties presented the lates+t developments on R&I along the raw materials value chain, in particular in the context of Horizon Europe, the next EU research and innovation programme. Canada presented the main elements of its research strategy for the raw materials value chain.

Both parties agreed to explore how best to strengthen cooperation on R&I along the raw materials value chain.

5.  Interaction with stakeholders

Stakeholders reiterated their interest in contributing to the dialogue, especially on four themes: increasing investment; environment and social licence to operate and responsible mining; permitting procedures; and innovation.

Stakeholders consider that policy requires coherence and permitting procedures need to be streamlined without compromising high ESG standards, if society wants a green, digital and climate-neutral economy.

6.  Closing remarks and next steps

Both parties agreed to use this dialogue to develop the strategic partnership on critical raw materials, in collaboration with EU member states and Canadian provincial and territorial governments.

Due to the uncertainty linked with the Covid-19 pandemic, the next meeting of the dialogue will be decided and announced later, but it is anticipated for mid-2021.

7.  Participants

EU

European Commission

DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW)

DG Energy (DG ENER)

DG Research and Innovation (DG RTD)

DG Trade (DG TRADE)

European External Action Service (EEAS)

EU Delegation to Canada

Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME)

Member States

Austria, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism

Belgium, Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs

Belgium, Federal Public Services Economy

Belgium, Flanders Investment & Trade Agency

Finland, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment

Finland, Geological Survey of Finland

France, Ministry of Ecological Transition

Germany, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Hungary, Mining and Geological Survey of Hungary

Ireland, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Poland, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Portugal, Directorate General for Energy and Geology

Sweden, Geological Survey of Sweden

Other

EIT Raw Materials

Canada

Natural Resources Canada, Lads and Minerals Sector; Strategic Policy and Innovation Sector

Global Affairs Canada

Invest in Canada

Provincial Governments

Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Geological Survey

Ontario, Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines

Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Industry, Energy and Technology

New Brunswick, Minerals and Resource Development/Natural Resources and Energy Development

Quebec, Ministry of Economy and Innovation

Alberta, Jobs, Economy and Innovation

List of Representatives of the EU, Canada and Raw Materials Stakeholders Forum attending the government –stakeholders’ session of the EU-Canada Bilateral Dialogue on Raw Materials

Camilleri Law

Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Canadian Rare Earth Elements Network (CREEN)

EuroGeoSurveys

Euromines

Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)

Imperial Mining Group

Mining Association of Canada (MAC)

Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC)