EU and Canada to unveil expanded partnership covering trade, energy and security
At a summit in Montreal, the European Union and Canada will announce a broad agreement that includes cooperation on digital trade, critical minerals, wildfire response and joint support for Ukraine.
The European Union and Canada are set to announce a comprehensive partnership at a summit in Montreal beginning on Oct. 29. The agreement, outlined in a draft joint statement circulated to EU ambassadors, covers a range of areas including the removal of digital trade barriers, accelerated investment in critical mineral projects, and measures to strengthen supply-chain security.
The two sides plan to coordinate strategies and standards across sectors such as low-carbon energy, including liquefied natural gas, hydro, solar, wind and nuclear power. They also intend to jointly purchase 50 De Havilland water-bombing aircraft for use in wildfire suppression in both regions by 2030.
"We are joining forces voluntarily … We will create a tech alliance. We will integrate defense industrial bases. We will make the Arctic a flagship joint project. We will work on energy, critical minerals and batteries. On AI, quantum, cyber and economic security," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a recent speech.
The partnership aims to deepen economic ties, enhance security cooperation and support Ukraine, reflecting a broader effort to reinforce strategic relations amid global geopolitical shifts.