European Union leaders have travelled to Canada for a summit designed to consolidate the expansion of bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, defence, critical raw materials and new technologies.
According to Report’s European bureau, the EU–Canada summit, which will take place in Montreal from 29 to 30 October, will be attended by European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. Canada will be represented by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The European delegation will also include nine members of the European Commission: Executive Vice-Presidents Thérèse Ribère, Henna Virkkunen, Stéphane Séjourné and Roxana Mînzatu, as well as European Commissioners Maroš Šefčovič, Andrius Kubilius, Maria Luís Albuquerque, Jessica Rosvall and Glenn Micallef. They will hold talks with their Canadian counterparts on digital technologies and artificial intelligence, supply chain resilience, the energy transition and environmental protection.
Following the meeting, the parties expect to announce the creation of the ‘Alliance for the Future’ – a framework initiative aimed at strengthening economic security, expanding trade and political ties, and coordinating actions on the international stage.
The agenda also includes defence cooperation, education, scientific research, innovation and youth exchanges. The leaders will review progress since the previous summit in 2025, at which the establishment of an EU–Canada partnership in the field of security and defence was announced.
Particular attention will be paid to trade relations against the backdrop of the EU–Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), as well as Canada’s participation in the European defence programme SAFE.
