Welcome

Welcome to the latest edition of European Metals newsletter, a lot has happened since our launch last month!

On the policy front, we finally have the Industrial Accelerator Act to chew on. First indications suggest that there is a lot of work to be done to make it really work for non-ferrous metals. That said, it is a significant upside that the Act is out. There had been rumours that such an ambitious pro-European industry regulation might never see the light of day… so congratulations to Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné for getting it over the line. 

On the downside, it seems that the public procurement element may not quite translate into European money for European companies. Instead, the framework seems to extend to anyone who signed the 2012 WTO Plurilateral Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) - including Hong Kong. In other words, our work is clearly not finished yet, and we will need to make sure that the various elements of the Act genuinely add up to something meaningful for our sector. Time to roll up our sleeves once again.

This month also saw the first European Metals engagement with the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference where 30,000 industry representatives gave talks, exchanged ideas and hundreds of business cards! Martina, from our team, will be recounting the elements of this first adventure into PDAC in her Editorial.

We also welcomed the first new member of the year – the International Wrought Copper Council (IWCC), and we are delighted that their VP Miette Dechelle has written a short piece about the IWCC and why they joined European Metals.

Finally, you will find a comprehensive overview of the many events we will be engaging with throughout 2026, including our own Annual Conference (24th June – save the date!), where I am also happy to say that the three leading sponsor opportunities have already sold out. If you want to get involved and take a visibility sponsorship for just 2.5K let me know! And of course, if you simply want to connect or exchange ideas, feel free to reach out directly at watson@european-metals.eu.

Europe’s Moment to Turn Ambition into Industrial Resilience

Last week, European Metals had the opportunity to attend the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada Convention in Toronto for the first time. PDAC is where industry leaders, investors and governments come together to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and tackle some of the most pressing issues facing our sector. Despite the freezing temperatures outside, the nearly 30.000 participants gathered at the Toronto Convention Centre made the atmosphere inside warm and very energetic : an event that can feel a little overwhelming at first, but ultimately very inspiring !

We were particularly pleased to participate in the 9th Annual Western Tethyan and Europe Session presenting on the regulatory framework in Europe. Organised and moderated by Mundoro Capital, the session offered an in-depth technical discussion on exploration, development, and operational best practices across the region. High-level speakers included representatives from the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy Lyudmila Moskovska, as well as Madalina Ivanica, Deputy Head of Unit at Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. The key takeaway from this enriching session, also strongly emphasised in the keynote by our Director General James Watson, was clear: Europe is entering a new phase in its industrial strategy. The legislative initiatives adopted in recent years have indeed shown growing determination to strengthen EU capacity and diversify supply in critical raw materials.

The presence of EVP Stéphane Séjourné at a special certificate presentation ceremony recognising EU Strategic Projects (congratulations to our members who were present!) further highlighted the political momentum behind Europe’s raw materials agenda. The signature of a Letter of Intent on Critical Raw Materials Cooperation between the EIB and Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources also reinforced the message that building resilient supply chains will have to increasingly rely on partnerships with like-minded countries. With 44 critical raw materials identified in Europe -17 of which are considered strategic for Europe’s defence and economy - strengthening European capacity and diversifying supply is no longer optional. As Madalina Ivanica also put it during the Western Tethyan session, we are operating in a “new reality”.

The discussions in Toronto strongly resonated with conversations we have been facilitating closer to home: metals are essential. They are the bedrock of Europe’s industrial ecosystem, the foundation of our defence capabilities, infrastructure, and manufacturing strength. Metals are all around us, and Europe cannot afford to lose further ground.

After hectic days in Toronto, we were back to Brussels just in time to see the long-awaited proposal for the Industrial Accelerator Act. Presented after weeks of intense debate, the proposal is ambitious: it aims to strengthen Europe’s industrial base, accelerate decarbonisation through re-industrialisation, and raise the share of manufacturing to 20% of EU GDP by 2035, up from around 14% today. Measures such as creating lead markets for European industrial products, accelerating permitting through digital one-stop shops, introducing value-creating conditions for major foreign investments, and establishing Industrial Acceleration Areas, aim to provide exactly what investors have long called for: clearer demand signals, faster procedures, and a more predictable framework for industrial projects.

And yet, while the proposal represents real progress, questions remain. If metals are so central to Europe’s industrial future - as discussions at PDAC repeatedly highlighted – what will their place be within this new framework? Basic metals are indeed included among eligible sectors, but the benefits remain relatively uncertain. Aluminium, for example, is specifically referenced in public procurement and state aid provisions - where 25% must be low-carbon and of Union origin - but what about the wider metals’ family?   

The good news is that the conversation continues. In our upcoming webinar on 24 March, we will unpack the proposal together with Aleksandra Kordecka, Member of Stephane Sejourne’s Cabinet, Trade Union representatives and industry representatives: a timely discussion that should not be missed. You can find all the details in the events section of this newsletter.

From the discussions in Toronto to the debates in Brussels, one thing is increasingly clear: there is still a long way to go, but the first steps of the journey are often the hardest. Now is the time to work together to ensure the Industrial Accelerator Act truly delivers for Europe’s metals industry.

International Wrought Copper Council 

European Metals continues to grow — welcome to our newest member!

The International Wrought Copper Council (IWCC) is the global organisation founded in 1953 for the copper and copper alloy semis fabricating industry. 

IWCC works with and on behalf of its member companies worldwide to support the copper and copper alloy semis fabricating industry. This includes organising international events and meetings, producing reliable industry statistics and data, and representing the industry in external bodies.

IWCC also has dedicated Product Committees that bring together members producing the same copper semi-finished products. These committees review market statistics, keep members informed about new legislation, and discuss how such developments can best be addressed collectively with the support of IWCC. Partnerships with upstream producers and downstream users are central to this work, ensuring close collaboration across the entire copper value chain.

IWCC joined European Metals to represent its members’ interests in EU policy, contribute its expertise in chemical management, and strengthen networking both in Europe and globally.

Miette Dechelle

Members News:

KGHM Polska Miedź has renewed a long-term copper supply agreement with Danish NKT, extending their partnership through 2036.  The renewed agreement will guarantee long‑term copper availability, and strengthen KGHM role as a strategic supplier of raw materials for the energy sector.

Nyrstar marks Port Pirie’s first shipment of Australian-produced antimony: On 17 February 2026 the company dispatched the first commercial-grade antimony produced at its demonstration plant onsite - a milestone that establishes a domestic mine-to-metal supply for a critical material, opens immediate supply to an east-coast Australian manufacturer and paves the way for exports to Europe, Asia and the US while the facility explores scaling to around 5,000 tonnes per year (≈15% of the global market).

Aluminium Dunkerque is celebrating a major milestone for aluminium decarbonisation in France, through the work of the consortium C4Capture, which brings together Aluminium Dunkerque, Fives, TRIMET France and Rio Tinto.  The C4Capture consortium launched on 14 January 2026 pilot tests in real conditions of a CO₂ capture technology at the Aluminium Dunkerque and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne sites. This year-long programme aims to prove technical and economic feasibility - with a  2030 target to reduce direct emissions (excluding energy) from primary aluminium production by 50%. 

Alro is celebrating 60 years of aluminium expertise, continuity and development.

In the Press

• 25 February – Euractiv - Metals lobby urges Commission to publish made-in-EU rules
• 25 February - Carbon Pulse - EU must not further delay Industrial Accelerator Act, urges metals lobby

• • 26 February - POLITICO (Pro) Morning Energy & Climate