The European Union and Canada launched a new Canada-EU Alliance for the Future during the 21st EU-Canada Summit in Montréal on Friday (30 Oct), where President of the European Council António Costa, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney agreed a wide-ranging joint statement.
The initiative aims to deepen cooperation on trade, economic security, defence, digital technologies, critical raw materials and artificial intelligence, while strengthening supply chain resilience and foreign policy coordination.
The leaders also reaffirmed support for Ukraine, rules-based international trade, multilateral institutions and closer collaboration on climate, energy and Arctic affairs. The statement outlines plans to expand Canada-EU cooperation through new agreements, research partnerships and enhanced security initiatives.
Key developments
- Canada and the EU launched the Alliance for the Future to strengthen economic security and strategic cooperation.
- Leaders concluded negotiations on a Digital Trade Agreement and a second-generation Competition Agreement.
- The partnership expands collaboration on AI, critical minerals, energy, defence, cybersecurity and research.
Beyond trade and security, the joint statement outlines expanded cooperation in research, education, financial services, disaster preparedness, public health, maritime security, law enforcement and cultural exchanges, alongside greater mobility for students, researchers and skilled workers.
It also sets out plans to develop an “ever-closer association” between Canada and the European Union—short of full EU membership—with both sides aiming to define the concept ahead of the 2027 EU-Canada Summit.