Photo by: European Parliament, CC BY 4.0, via Flickr
VANCOUVER — Joanna Kyriazis, director of policy and strategy at Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to the joint statement from the EU and Canada following the Canada-EU summit in Montreal:
“Today’s statement reiterates various positive high-level commitments to advance energy security and accelerate the energy transition. However, it provides comparatively few concrete measures.
“A bright spot of the summit was the continued momentum around greater critical mineral supply chain integration between the regions. Critical minerals like lithium, nickel, copper, and graphite will be key to the strategic technology value chains identified in the statement and the energy systems of the future.
“One of the few tangible actions detailed in the statement was the signing of a new framework agreement between Canada and the European Investment Bank, which will be essential for facilitating EU investment in Canadian critical minerals. As a recent Clean Energy Canada report detailed, stronger joint financing frameworks will be central to making real progress in this area and turning high-level MOUs into actual investments.
“Other commitments to collaborate across the entire value chain, pursue joint stockpiling efforts, build stronger links between our respective ports, and facilitate business-to-business connections will likewise enhance supply chain resilience and ensure that the economic value of critical minerals is retained within Canada and Europe.
“Similarly, we were pleased to see a commitment to ‘intensify’ efforts to address bilateral barriers to trade, including through greater cooperation on regulations and standards. Adopting EU vehicle safety standards, in combination with our current North American ones, should be a priority. Doing so would directly improve affordability and choice for Canadian consumers by increasing our access to the budget-friendly EVs already available for sale in the EU. Making it easier for EU carmakers to serve the Canadian market would also make Canada more attractive to EU investment and establish ourselves as a key link in Europe’s EV battery supply chain.
“Last, we welcome the mention of collaboration on ‘sustainable grids and energy sources’ and ‘battery storage.’ However, the lack of focus on electrification is surprising given both jurisdictions’ domestic emphasis on building out their electricity systems—and is thus a major shortcoming of this agreement.
“As the EU and Canada seek to advance a partnership anchored in ensuring mutual security and navigating an uncertain world, it is essential that electrification remains a north star. The electrification of vehicles, buildings, and industries is one of the greatest ways we can advance both short- and long-term affordability, competitiveness, and energy security. It underpins the build-out of critical mineral and electricity supply chains. And it needs a greater focus at this stage of discussions.”
RESOURCES
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