From trade partners to associate membership?
As mentioned in the opening remarks of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Ambassador of Canada to the EU, the relations between the EU and Canada are ever closer and stronger, ten years after the signature of CETA. He underlined the significant benefits from the provisional application of the agreement, emphasising the growing momentum to move beyond a primarily economic and trade-focused relationship.
Recalling the recent EU-Canada Summit in Montréal, he emphasised the development of new partnerships, notably pointing to the conclusion of negotiations on the Digital Trade Agreement, investments in critical raw materials projects, further Canadian participation in Erasmus+ for students, efforts to facilitate labour mobility and the recognition of professional qualifications, and a new dialogue on Arctic issues.
One of the leitmotifs of the event was that, while the prospect of Canada becoming an associate member of the European Union was welcomed by many, efforts to deepen the relationship had already begun before President von der Leyen’s announcement. Ultimately, the strength of the partnership will be defined not by semantics, but by concrete actions.
A deeper partnership must involve parliamentarians
The Chair of the Delegation for relations with Canada, MEP Javier Moreno Sánchez, and the President of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Group, Canadian MP James Maloney, were present to discuss the role of parliaments in strengthening the EU-Canada relation. The panellists dove into the importance of parliamentary involvement and oversight in this rapprochement, emphasising the central role of parliamentarians to ensure a transparent, democratic and accountable process for European and Canadian citizens.
Following the 44th EU-Canada Interparliamentary Meeting, both Chairs highlighted the need for parliamentary cooperation to evolve in parallel of the broader EU-Canada relationship, pointing to the possibility of establishing a joint parliamentary body. They stressed the importance of involving both parliaments in discussions on the future of the partnership.
The panellists also emphasised that, as like-minded partners, Canada and the EU are well placed to work together to defend multilateralism, strengthen their economic security and diversify supply chains.
An Alliance for the Future
Responding to questions from the audience, the panellists recognised the need to foster closer cooperation within NATO. Addressing a question on relations with the United States, they both clarified that the current rapprochement between Canada and the EU is not directed against anyone or any country, but rather for the benefit of both Canada and the EU. No one is seeking to replace the United States as a partner, but rather to strengthen and diversify existing relationships.
In his concluding remarks, MEP Moreno Sánchez urged the remaining nine EU Member States that have not yet ratified CETA to do so, in order to bring this chapter of Canada–EU relations to a close and pave the way for the next phase of the partnership. As Canada and the EU look towards a new era in their partnership, sustained parliamentary engagement will be essential to translating political ambition into concrete results.
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