The European Union and Canada have formalised a Security and Defence Partnership and initiated collaborative efforts in industrial policy and digital trade, as announced 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 shortly after he hosted the G7 Summit in Kananaskis.
The agreements established mark a new phase in the already close strategic partnership between the EU and Canada. The newly signed Security and Defence Partnership enables Canada to engage in joint defence procurements alongside EU Member States under the SAFE instrument, thereby enhancing Canada’s role within the EU’s security framework. President von der Leyen also indicated that negotiations would commence promptly for a second agreement, allowing the Canadian defence industry to participate in these joint procurements.
Moreover, the EU and Canada reaffirmed their steadfast support for Ukraine and committed to sustaining pressure on Russia to facilitate negotiations. They also reiterated their ongoing support for Moldova in response to Russian attempts to undermine its stability.
In light of the current situation in the Middle East, both parties called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid. They emphasised the necessity of preventing further escalation between Israel and Iran while reiterating that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, as its destabilising role in the region requires attention.
On matters of trade and economy, the leaders praised the achievements of the EU-Canada Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA), noting a 65% increase in bilateral trade in goods since its provisional implementation. To build upon this success, both partners have pledged to strengthen cooperation under their Strategic Partnership on Raw Materials and have initiated an EU-Canada Industrial Policy Dialogue. This dialogue aims to facilitate discussions among government and industry representatives regarding the reinforcement of common supply chains.
Additionally, the EU and Canada have agreed to begin negotiations on a Digital Trade Agreement and explore opportunities for collaboration in Artificial Intelligence by aligning standards, including the possibility of Canada participating in the EU’s AI Factories initiative.
