EU and Canada push for deeper partnership ahead of U.S. midterms and European elections
EU officials and Canadian diplomats are preparing a summit in Montreal to expand trade, security and other ties, seeking to lock in gains before U.S. midterm elections and upcoming European votes.
EU leaders and Canadian officials are preparing for a two-day summit in Montreal aimed at broadening cooperation on trade, security, energy, education and Arctic issues. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are scheduled to meet, according to sources familiar with the talks.
The agenda includes an upgrade of the EU-Canada relationship that would go beyond the existing Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Mark Camilleri, president of the Canada-EU Trade and Investment Association, said the summit "is a very strong statement" and that participants do not expect it to be a discreet gathering.
Canadian diplomats said the timing is intended to secure structural changes before the political landscape in Europe shifts, with elections slated for Spain, France, Poland and Italy in the coming year. They also hope the initiative will outlast the current U.S. administration and the potential rise of France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen.
U.S. President Donald Trump has previously dismissed the EU’s offer of associate membership for Canada as "laughable" and warned of "serious tariffs" if the two sides deepen ties. European officials acknowledge that a stronger EU-Canada alliance could provoke a reaction from Washington, but they argue that the partnership is "not against anyone else," as von der Leyen stated in a recent speech.
"At the end of the day, his reaction could be anything. We can only control what we can control," Camilleri said.
Analysts note that the summit could produce symbolic outcomes rather than substantive policy shifts, depending on how the United States responds after the midterm elections.
The draft joint statement obtained by the source outlines plans for closer cooperation across multiple sectors, while emphasizing that the EU and Canada will continue "business as usual" despite potential U.S. scrutiny.