Canada and EU leaders discuss trade, security
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, met in Brussels, Belgium. They highlighted the close relationship between Canada and the European Union, which is underpinned by a Strategic Partnership Agreement and a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The leaders discussed the importance of working together to promote global economic security and stability. They highlighted the strong trade and investment relationship between Canada and the EU, and agreed on the importance of renewing efforts to advance and diversify trade.
They emphasized the importance of Canada-EU cooperation – including in the context of Canada’s G7 Presidency – to address current opportunities and challenges in a complex, competitive, and unpredictable world.
In the run-up to the three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine as it continues to resist Russia’s unjustifiable war of aggression. They spoke about developments in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza and Syria.
"Since the signing of CETA many years ago, we've seen the creation of thousands of jobs, of tremendous prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic and it's something we're very much talking about doing even more in a reliable and trustworthy way. Beyond that, we're also talking about security issues," Trudeau said.
President Costa and President Von der Leyen expressed their gratitude for Prime Minister Trudeau’s personal contribution and leadership in strengthening Canada-EU relations and in upholding shared values and the rules-based international order.
"Trade can be very beneficial and lead to a win-win situation. CETA has proven it. Indeed, since we have CETA, trade and investment on both sides have increased by 66%. This is excellent and beneficial for both sides. It is good for the consumers, it is good for the business, and it is good for the people on both sides of the Atlantic," Von der Leyen said.
