Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who, in his speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, preferred to speak of an ‘alliance for the future’ between the EU and Canada.
In any case, efforts will now be made to expand and deepen relations. Both sides will have the opportunity to discuss the details at their summit in Montreal at the end of October. On the economic front, the focus will be on fully implementing the CETA free trade agreement and intensifying economic cooperation, particularly in the areas of (critical) raw materials, energy, digital technology and financial services. The development of common standards for artificial intelligence is also on the agenda. Furthermore, Canada could participate in the Erasmus+ programme, strengthening scientific exchange across the Atlantic. In terms of foreign policy, the EU and Canada entered into a security and defence partnership last year, and Canada is the first non-European country to participate in the EU’s SAFE instrument, which promotes investment in the defence industry through joint procurement.