The European Union and Canada are working on a new comprehensive partnership that will span trade, security and other key areas. These transatlantic partners aim to forge a fresh alliance amid a global political landscape dominated by the USA and China. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who heads the EU executive, is expected to unveil the plans during her State of the Union address in Strasbourg, France, on September 16. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will attend the speech and will address European lawmakers the following day.
The government of Mark Carney has made deepening ties with the EU a top priority and is weighing every option short of full EU membership, a Canadian official said on condition of anonymity. Discussions centre on “strategic opportunities,” especially cooperation in defence, space exploration and scientific research.
It remains unclear whether new legal instruments will be needed to formalise the partnership. Negotiations are ongoing, and the government of Mark Carney plans to consult with Canadian provinces and industry representatives.
New global architecture and security initiatives
Earlier this year, speaking at the World Economic Forum, Mark Carney said the “rules‑based international order” is effectively dead and urged so‑called “middle powers” to build a new global architecture to counter pressure and intimidation from major powers.
He did not name US President Donald Trump, but called for new alliances as a final line of defence against states that impose their economic and military might on others at will.
A spokesperson for the office of Mark Carney declined to comment for this story. A representative of the European Commission also did not respond to a request for comment.
The content of Ursula von der Leyen‘s speech next week is still being finalised and may change before delivery. According to people familiar with the preparations, the forthcoming agreements are intended to cover all major relationship areas, including trade, security, supply chains and critical raw materials.
The USA and Canada have recently exchanged reciprocal tariff measures, while Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised EU trade policy and continues to express interest in the USA acquiring Greenland.
Beyond EU membership, the parties want to bring their relationship as close as legally possible, while balancing Canada‘s access to the EU single market with the obligations that such access entails.
The parties have also discussed cooperation through the Trans‑Pacific Partnership, a multilateral trade agreement that includes Canada.
Last year, Canada became the first country outside the EU to join a European military procurement fund worth €150 billion ($174 billion).
The EU and Canada already have an ambitious trade agreement and a security‑defence partnership. Now they are looking for ways to deepen those ties within the limits of what is legally possible.
An EU‑Canada summit is scheduled to take place in Canada in October.
Source: Bloomberg
