President Ursula von der Leyen, together with President António Costa and EU High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas will welcome Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Brussels for the 20th EU-Canada Summit today (23 June). The Summit will give new impetus to the EU and Canada relationship strategic partnership as we shape joint responses to today’s geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges.
Europe and Canada will sign a Security and Defence Partnership to strengthen our cooperation on global security challenges, develop common responses to threats and will offer more opportunities in industrial defence cooperation and joint procurement.
Europe and Canada will reiterate their commitment to open, stable and free trade among partners. The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is an example of how trade boosts prosperity.
Already this week, G7 leaders agreed to counter growing risks to supply chains. Trusted partners must stay together, and this is what the EU and Canada are doing. Critical raw materials are central to this effort, with Canada uniquely placed as a major exporter and the EU being its second-largest customer. Cooperation under the Kananaskis Critical Raw Materials Action Plan will support shared goals set out in the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, including responsible production, stronger supply chains, and fair standards.
Leaders will also reiterate their dedication to the clean transition, as both an economic opportunity and a societal challenge for the EU and Canada, and on climate resilience also in view of the upcoming COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil.
During the Summit, leaders are expected to announce several new initiatives and to renew their commitment to the policy decisions taken at the 2023 summit. They will renew their commitment to deepen EU-Canada cooperation on digital, AI and quantum technologies.
The Summit shows once more that the EU-Canada partnership makes a major contribution to the safety and prosperity of our citizens, helping them to adapt to a changing world. It is also a symbol of the enduring closeness and friendship between Europeans and Canadians. Follow the Summit on European Broadcasting Service.
More information about the EU-Canada relations or CETA.
A factsheet on the EU-Canada relations will be made available after the Summit.