The European Union and Canada have announced a new partnership aimed at deepening economic and security cooperation, following a summit held in Montreal.
The initiative, named the “Alliance for the Future”, seeks to create a shared space of prosperity and economic security. Both sides plan to strengthen supply chains and reduce their exposure to common economic risks.
Cooperation is also expected to expand into several other areas, including defence, energy, education, trade, space and artificial intelligence.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the agreement as a step towards building a world better equipped to withstand crises, at a time when societies are facing new challenges and disruptions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the summit opens a new chapter in relations between the two sides. Meanwhile, European Council President António Costa described Canada as “the most European of non-European countries”.
The discussions were also accompanied by disagreements over a proposal for Canada to obtain the status of an “associated member” of the European Union. The idea, supported by Carney, was opposed particularly by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and the wording was subsequently removed from the final declaration.
Von der Leyen emphasised that Canada cannot become a full member of the EU, but stressed that the objective remains to bring the two sides as close together as possible.
The partnership is taking shape against the backdrop of strained relations with both the United States and China. US President Donald Trump has criticised Canada’s growing rapprochement with the EU and threatened to disrupt trade relations.
The European Union is Canada’s second-largest trading partner after the United States, while the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the EU-Canada free trade agreement, has been provisionally applied for several years.
Ottawa also intends to contribute to the financing of the EU’s €90 billion loan to Ukraine. However, the Canadian government has not yet provided details regarding the amount or the terms of its potential contribution.
