Following on from the EU and Australia signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a bilateral partnership to cooperate on sustainable critical and strategic minerals, 24 European Union Member State Ambassadors to Australia, and senior officials, visited Western Australia to deepen engagement with the state and the mining sector.

The visit which saw the Ambassadors engage with the Western Australia Governor, Premier, and Ministers provided a unique opportunity for European representatives to gain key insights and understandings about Western Australia; a primary economic driver of Australia’s resource sector.

Engagements with the Mineral Council of Australia and resource giants Rio Tinto, BHP, as well as critical minerals sector and indigenous communities in the Pilbara and Kimberly regions also demonstrated to both sides the key opportunities that were now available thanks to the enhancing strategic relationship.

EU Ambassador Gabriele Visentin said “Secure and sustainable supply of raw materials is at the core of the European Union’s agenda and Europe will not achieve its ambition alone: it needs to work with reliable partners for sustainable projects.”

“This is where our partnership with Australia is so important. The many Australian mineral projects operating with high ESG standards are strategic for the EU and the reason for our presence here today. We want to strengthen our cooperation and increase our business links, to the benefits of Australians and Europeans alike,” he said.