The European Union and Canada have concluded a Security and Defence Partnership and launched cooperation initiatives in industrial policy and digital trade during a bilateral summit held yesterday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa welcomed Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney in Brussels, days after he hosted the G7 Summit in Kananaskis.
With the new agreements, the EU and Canada entered a new phase in their already close strategic partnership.
The Security and Defence Partnership signed yesterday enables Canada to participate in joint defence procurements along with EU Member States under the SAFE instrument, reinforcing Canada’s role in the EU’s security architecture.
President von der Leyen announced that negotiations will start swiftly on a second agreement that will allow the Canadian defence industry to also take part in the joint procurements.
As the President said: “Together, we will define where our cooperation can have the most value added, and where we should channel joint investments. It will be good for our industries; it will be good for our people; and it will be good for transatlantic security, too.”
The EU and Canada also reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine and committed to continue piling pressure on Russia to make it come to the negotiating table. They also reaffirmed their continued support for Moldova as it deals with Russia’s attempts to undermine it.
At the same time, in the midst of current developments in the Middle East, both sides called again for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the unimpeded access of humanitarian aid. Likewise, they called to avoid escalation between Israel and Iran, while restating that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons and that its destabilising role in the region needs to be addressed.
On trade and economy, the leaders celebrated the success of the EU-Canada Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA), which has led to an increase of 65% in bilateral trade in goods since its provisional entry into application.
“CETA stands as strong symbol of the power of free and fair trade. I must say, 98% of our tariff lines are at zero. I repeat it: zero,” President von der Leyen emphasised.
Building on that success, both partners committed to strengthen cooperation under their Strategic Partnership on Raw Materials and they launched an EU-Canada Industrial Policy Dialogue for government and industry representatives on both sides of the Atlantic to explore ways to reinforce common supply chains.
Furthermore, the EU and Canada agreed to start negotiations on a Digital Trade Agreement and they will explore ways to cooperate on Artificial Intelligence by aligning standards and eventually, by the participation of Canada in the EU’s AI Factories initiative.
More information: European Commission.
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