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Europe goes big at IMARC 2026 with critical minerals at the heart of the EU-Australia partnership

European Union Delegation to Australia

Key Facts:

• Europe goes big at IMARC 2026 with an EU Pavilion, an EU Keynote Panel and site visits in three states.
• Australia is a top-tier critical minerals partner for Europe, with closer ties than ever this year in defence, research and trade.
• Partnership means real projects and Australian companies are already helping build Europe’s critical minerals supply chains.

The European Union will bring a significantly expanded presence to the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC), held at ICC Sydney from 27 to 29 October.

As Europe builds a worldwide network of trusted partners to secure the critical raw materials that power its clean energy, digital and defence industries, Australia has become a key partner.

The expanded Strategic and Critical Minerals Partnership comes during a year in which the EU and Australia significantly deepened relations with the signing of a Security and Defence Partnership, association of Australia to Horizon Europe - the EU’s €95 billion research and innovation programme - and concluded negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement.

Among Europe’s partners, Australia stands apart, with essential resources, deep mining expertise, strong regulation and shared democratic values.

The EU now has strategic raw materials partnerships with seventeen countries across five continents, from the USA and Canada, Chile and Argentina to Namibia, Kazakhstan, Norway and Ukraine. Australia joined this network in 2024 which integrate value chains, mobilise investment in local processing and jobs, support research and skills, and lock in high environmental, social and governance standards.

Strategic Projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act are where Europe’s global strategy becomes real investment. On 9 October 2026 the European Commission designated 46 new Strategic Projects. These add to the 2025 lists, where Australian expertise is already part of this effort, and ASX-listed companies behind several of Europe’s designated projects in lithium, graphite and battery metals.

EU Ambassador to Australia, Lawrence Meredith, said: “Europe is building a global network of trusted partners for critical minerals, and Australia is at the top of that list. As we continue to deepen relations, agreements turn into real projects, real investment and real jobs on both sides of the world. With both European companies and institutions joining the IMARC this year, we look forward to great outcomes.”

European engagement at IMARC 2026 will include an EU Pavilion of 54 sqm stand with dedicated Member State pods; EU Keynote Panel with senior EU and Australian leaders discussing Europe’s global critical minerals strategy and pre- and post-conference site visits to Queensland, NSW and WA locations, connecting European delegates directly with Australian processing hubs and project developers.

Background

The EU - Australia Partnership on Critical and Strategic Minerals was signed in May 2024 and is one of seventeen strategic raw materials partnerships the EU has established worldwide. IMARC is Australia’s largest mining event, bringing together investors, miners, governments and innovators from around the world

Contact details:

Victoria Kelly-Clark – EU Delegation to Australia

[email protected]

Ph: 0429 024 887