Canada – EU

Canada and the European Union

23 June 2025
Joint Statement: Enduring Partnership, Ambitious Agenda
Today marks a historic milestone as we, the leaders of the European Union and Canada, met to renew our enduring commitment and take a pivotal step to further reinforce the strategic partnership between the European Union and Canada. Our strong partnership is deeply rooted in trust and common values and shaped by a shared history of human connection and robust economic ties. Most importantly, our partnership is grounded in the core values we share: democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and open, rules-based markets. In a rapidly changing world marked by geopolitical uncertainty, shifting economic dynamics, and the accelerating impacts of climate change, this partnership is more important than ever.
We stand united in our objective to forge a new ambitious and comprehensive partnership that responds to the needs of today and will evolve to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future. This marks the beginning of a long-term effort that will help us promote shared prosperity, democratic values, peace and security. To do this, we have decided to further build on existing ties and launch a process that will move Canada and the EU closer together and that lays out immediate and long-term actions outlined in an ambitious agenda at the end of this document. We also agreed today on an EU-Canada Security and Defence Partnership.

25 June
As Carney turns to Europe for economic and security support, why doesn’t Canada join the EU?
Prime Minister Mark Carney has previously called Canada the “most European of the non-European countries,” while several EU politicians have started calling on both sides to consider the idea.
(iPolitics) Following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trip to Belgium earlier this week, Canada and the European Union (EU) released a joint statement. Read it closely and you’ll find countless areas where the two parties are aligned.
As part of the agreement to strengthen the bilateral economic and security partnership, both Canada and the EU vowed to work closely on, among other things, digital innovation, climate action and gender equality on both sides of the Atlantic.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, a familiar name to Europeans due to his seven-year stint as governor of the Bank of England, previously described Canada as the “most European of the non-European countries” during a trip overseas earlier this year, and he’s repeatedly turned to EU member states during U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war and annexation threats.

23 June
Canada signs deal deepening European defence and security partnership
Prime Minister Carney met with EU members in Brussels
(CBC) The agreement opens the door for Canadian companies to participate in the $1.25-trillion ReArm Europe program, which is seen as a step toward making Canada less reliant on — and less vulnerable to — the whims of the United States.
Eventually, it will also help the Canadian government partner with other allied nations to buy military equipment under what’s known as the SAFE program
Carney makes deal with EU ahead of NATO summit | Power & Politics @0:48
…retired vice-admiral Mark Norman evaluates how much the security pact that Canada and the European Union signed Monday can bolster Canada’s defence industry, and the message it sends to Washington about Canada’s push to be less reliant on the U.S.
Canada and E.U. Pull Together as America Pushes Them Away
The European Union and Canada struck a defense agreement on Monday, a step toward closer military cooperation as relations with the United States have soured.
(NYT) Canada signed a defense partnership with the European Union on Monday, the latest indication that two of America’s closest allies are deepening their military cooperation as President Trump pulls away and promises to reduce the United States’ role in international security.
Mr. Trump has been pushing for other countries in NATO — which includes Canada and most European Union nations — to invest far more in their militaries, accusing them of relying too much on the United States.
…as Canada and Germany, France and other countries in the 27-nation European Union pour money into protecting their own territories and preparing for a future rife with geopolitical tension, they are also striking new alliances. They are seeking to pull closer together, while also moving to be less dependent on an increasingly capricious United States…
Canada signs new security and defence partnership with Europe
(iPolitics)The agreement commits Canada and Europe to collaborating on defence and is a step toward Canada participating in the continent’s massive new defence procurement program, known as ReArm Europe.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who travelled to Brussels for the EU-Canada summit, is pursuing more options for defence procurement as Canada seeks to reduce its trade and security reliance on the United States.
“We are going to build trading relationships with like-minded partners, reliable partners,” Carney told a news conference after the summit.
“The future of trade does have this defence co-operation,” Carney added, saying that some NATO allies are pursuing “an allied industrial policy that will make us stronger. That’s the future of the trade, not a narrow discussion on tariffs.”

18  June
Canada-EU Summit 2025: A Next-Level Strategic Partnership
By Mark Camilleri
(Policy) On June 23rd, leaders from Canada and the European Union will meet in Brussels. This meeting, wedged between the higher-profile G7 and NATO summits taking place only a week apart, is unlikely to be the routine, stock-taking exercise that has defined many bilateral summits in recent years. In fact, it is shaping up to be the most consequential Canada-EU leaders’ meeting since the 2009 Prague Summit, when negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) were launched.
… As per previous summits since Prague, we can expect this summit to involve a focus on CETA. Despite only being provisionally applied since 2017, CETA is working: bilateral trade in goods has risen over 65 percent, and services are up 73 percent.
Nevertheless, the potential of CETA remains under-realized.
One key reason is the regulatory divergences of the Canadian and European markets. To increase bilateral trade, more ambition and action will be required to identify areas of regulatory alignment.
CETA has an innovative structure for collaboration between regulators, but it needs new life.
If the leaders look to bridge regulatory divergences, there are two steps that will help to re-operationalize the CETA regulatory cooperation structure: first, focusing on high-impact sectors with clear metrics for success; and second, ensuring businesses and industry groups have a meaningful role in this process.

12 June
War and Peace, 2025: Canada, NATO, and a Rogue America
Jeremy Kinsman
(Policy) Having begun to explore whether accommodation is possible with the US on bilateral issues, Carney will participate in three major summits in the last two weeks of June — the Kananaskis G7 (June 15-17), the Canada-EU meetings in Brussels (June 23), and the NATO summit in The Hague (June 24-26).
… The fact is that the Trump administration is advancing a different worldview than America’s democratic allies, perhaps toward new geopolitical groupings around three dominant spheres of influence: the US in the Americas, China in Asia, and Russia in Eurasia. This is obviously anathema to US allies from Europe, Japan, and especially Canada.
That is why the Canada-EU Summit is so important. Carney’s outline of new defence investments and intentions, in cyber, AI, in modern capital equipment renewal, in joint procurement and defence infrastructure, and in shared projects, including especially in the centrally emphasized Arctic, are all of direct interest to EU strategic partners. Carney intends to advance Canada’s participation in the EU’s ReArm Europe program. Separate discussions are ongoing on participation in Germany and Norway’s joint program to build a dozen submarines. Australia is already a partner on Arctic early warning systems. Canada should engage the Danes and other Arctic Council Europeans, on security of Arctic passages through Canadian waters to Greenland.
…our geography has variable opportunities, notably closer integration with Europe, not just on defence projects, but on strategic geoeconomics. We shall always be geographically compelled to valourize and nurture our prime US relationship, but the events of recent months hold out the opportunity of like-minded relationships that can strengthen our global vocation.

28 April
What Liberal Mark Carney’s election win in Canada means for Europe
Katerina Sviderska, PhD Candidate in Slavonic Studies, University of Cambridge and Leandre Benoit, PhD Candidate in Politics, University of Oxford
(The Conversation) As some European countries and the United States head towards isolationism, authoritarianism and turn to the East — even flirting with Russia — Canada’s continued Liberal leadership reinforces its position as a key ally for the European Union. Carney’s centrist and pro-EU attitude provides stability and relief for Europeans.
From defence to trade and climate, Canada and the EU share deep economic and strategic ties. With a Liberal government, these connections will strengthen, offering both sides what they need the most: a reliable, like-minded partner at a time of transatlantic unpredictability.
Carney’s election offers new momentum for Canada-EU collaboration. His “blue liberalism” brings Canada ideologically closer to Europe’s current leadership — from Emmanuel Macron’s centrist France to the Christian Democratic Union-led coalition in Germany — providing fertile ground for pragmatic co-operation.
Trade remains the foundation of the Canada-EU relationship, and both sides should aim to build on it. At the heart of this partnership is the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which has increased EU-Canada trade by 65 per cent since 2017.

21 April
Could Canada join the EU? Unlikely … but not impossible.
EU scholars say Canada has the right vibe for Brussels — but there would be some major hurdles blocking a membership bid.
EU membership isn’t on the ballot in Canada’s crucial election later this month — but polling shows Canadians are intrigued by the idea of joining the bloc.
As U.S. President Donald Trump upends the relationship with his northern neighbor via a blizzard of punitive tariffs and belligerent social media posts, Canadians are wondering if they should cozy up to new, more reliable allies
Enter Brussels. …