Canada and the EU set a wider agenda for trade, technology and security

Canada and the European Union launched the Alliance for the Future at their 21st summit in Montréal. It aims to deepen economic and security ties and build more resilient supply chains.

New steps announced

• Negotiations concluded on a digital trade agreement intended to support cross-border data flows and provide clearer rules for businesses and consumers. It will complement CETA.
• Canada and the European Investment Bank concluded negotiations on an agreement to support European investment in Canadian resources, especially critical raw materials.
• Canada will participate in the EU’s high-performance computing partnership, and the two sides will work on digital technology, AI, research and secure communications.
• A Canada–EU border services working arrangement will expand operational cooperation. New dialogues will also cover the Arctic, foreign information interference, climate security and transport.

The agenda also covers energy, climate action, defence, cybersecurity, emergency and wildfire response, student opportunities and worker mobility. Canada and the EU aim to define a closer association by their 2027 summit; the statement says this would be short of EU membership.