July 16, 2026
Strengthening transatlantic coordination on Critical Undersea Infrastructure
Alexandra Hardwicke and Sasha Mathieu, graduate students in the (CMSS), recently returned from a prestigious study trip to Brussels, Belgium, where they presented a policy essay to European Union (EU) officials. The duo won the fully funded trip, after qualifying as finalists in the .
Inside of the EU Parliament's secondary plenary chamber in Brussels, Belgium.
Sasha Mathieu
The Schuman Challenge is an EU organized academic competition for university students where students present a proposal on a critical policy topic. This year's theme of building a stronger EU–Canada security and defence partnership was a perfect fit for CMSS students.
Strengthened Through CMSS Support
Hardwicke credits some of their success to CMSS for creating a collaborative environment where students are encouraged to tackle complex policy challenges.
“Through faculty support and interdisciplinary coursework, we developed a deep understanding of Canadian and international security and defence issues,” she says. “As this year's Schuman Challenge focused on Canada–EU defence cooperation, we were exceptionally well prepared to develop a thoughtful and competitive proposal.”
The proposal came during one of their busiest times of the semester, coinciding with the winter examination period. CMSS supported their efforts and provided the flexibility to accommodate academic deadlines, allowing the time to successfully write and submit the qualifying essay.
“That kind of support is invaluable in enabling students to pursue unique opportunities beyond the classroom while still succeeding academically,” says Mathieu.
Proposing a policy
In May, Hardwicke and Mathieu shared their pitch as part of a competition at the EU Delegation in Ottawa. They were chosen as one of the top three finalists, earning a spot on the five-day study trip to Brussels. The trip helped them to gain a deeper understanding of European institutions and their work on research, digital sovereignty, defence and critical infrastructure.
Their proposal called for the creation of a Canada–European Arctic Critical Undersea Infrastructure Dialogue (ACUID) to strengthen transatlantic coordination on Arctic CUI security and encourage proactive cooperation as new subsea cable projects emerge across the High North.
Building on this framework, they recommended investing in smart cable and surveillance technologies, advancing international legal and normative frameworks for CUI protection and conducting joint Arctic exercises to enhance preparedness, public-private coordination and crisis response in the region.
Hardwicke and Mathieu received thoughtful feedback on their proposal from officials across several European institutions, including the European External Action Service, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, the Directorate-General for Trade, the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, and the Directorate for Security and Crisis Management of the European Council.
The 2026 Schuman Challenge winning teams (from left to right). The American team (the first three individuals), followed by the teams representing Brandon University, the University of Ģý, and the University of British Columbia.
Courtesy of Sasha Mathieu
Moving forward, they will refine their recommendations based on the feedback and continue developing their research.
For Mathieu, whose master’s thesis examines CUI, the experience was particularly valuable in providing first-hand insight into the European policy and governance ecosystem surrounding this increasingly strategic domain.