CIRAN Panel Discussion – Minerals for Strategic Autonomy and Regional Development

On 13 October 2025, the CIRAN Panel Discussion takes place at the European Parliament in Brussels, under the title “Minerals for Strategic Autonomy and Regional Development: Boosting Critical Raw Materials Act Implementation.” The CIRAN Panel Discussion explores how Europe can secure the critical raw materials essential for its green and digital transition while maintaining environmental protection, public trust, and fair cooperation with local communities.

Hosted by MEP Hildegard Bentele, the session introduces groundbreaking Community Development Agreements as a new governance model linking extractive industries with social and regional development goals. Experts, policymakers, and civil-society representatives will debate how to create a fairer “social contract” between resource extraction and citizens, ensuring that mining and processing activities benefit regional economies and respect sustainability principles.

Participants will examine practical approaches that could reshape relationships between extractive projects and local actors across the European Union. The discussion will highlight lessons from existing partnerships, regulatory challenges, and innovative policies that can strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy while reinforcing democratic accountability.

The event is part of the broader CIRAN initiative, which supports research and policy dialogue on responsible mineral value chains. For more information, visit the CIRAN website.

To learn more about ALDA’s involvement in the project, read the article CIRAN – Critical Raw Materials Extraction in Environmentally Protected Areas.

 📆 13 October 2025 – 15:00 – 17:00 CET
💻 European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium

Speakers: Alexandre Météreau, Policy and Campaign Officer at ALDA
Matilde Ferrari, Project Manager at ALDA