COMMON MENU BAR BEGINS | DEBUT DE LA BARRE DE MENU COMMUNE

Institutional Links

Policy eDiscussions

eDiscussion on Canada-EU Relations

Open from Sept. 21 to Nov. 27, 2009

The department is engaging Canadians to provide their views on the topic of Canada-EU relations through our online discussion group.

Questions and Resources

Graphic of the Canada and European Union flags overlapping one another

Overview l Questions l Video and Audio Interviews l Policy Position Papers l Related Links and Latest News

View the discussion

Overview

The European Union is a strategic partner for Canada and the two share many common values. Their relationship is the EU's oldest formal relationship with any industrialised country, officially dating back to 1959. The EU has designated Canada as one of its seven ‘strategic partners’, along with the United States, China, India, Japan, Russia and Brazil.

Today, the EU represents Canada's second largest trade and investment partner and a natural ally on many foreign and security issues such as counter-terrorism, nuclear non-proliferation and election observation. Democracy-building and crisis management are two particular areas of notably close cooperation between Canada and the EU. Canada currently participates in three EU-led civilian crisis management missions: police missions in Afghanistan, the Palestinian Territories, and Kosovo.

To facilitate people-to-people exchanges, Canada and the EU have a Canada-EU Higher Education, Training and Youth Agreement.

Canada and the EU meet annually for a Canada-EU Summit, which Canada views as essential in maintaining relations and promoting cooperation between Canada and the European Union. At the recent Canada-EU Summit on May 6, 2009, Canada and the EU launched negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

Questions

Below we pose some strategic questions that are of particular relevance to the department. We request that your responses to the eDiscussion be directly related to these questions.

Cooperation in International Security

1. Since the introduction of the European Security and Defence Policy in 1999, the EU has become an important actor in the area of crisis management. Canada is also investing significant resources in crisis prevention, crisis response and reconstruction. How is Canada-EU cooperation impacting international crisis response? Where could Canada and the EU benefit from increased cooperation?

2. How important is the Canada-EU relationship in the context of transatlantic security and the international response to non-state security threats?

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

1. In this time of global economic uncertainty, Canada has signalled that it is committed to resisting protectionism, and has promoted an ambitious bilateral and multilateral trade agenda. What is the importance of international trade, and more specifically, Canada-EU trade, to the Canadian economy? How might the CETA open doors for Canadian business abroad? How might it benefit consumers at home?

2. The negotiating agenda for a CETA is broad in scope, and will include market access for goods and services, investment, as well as provisions on regulatory cooperation, labour and environment. What should Canada’s main interests and considerations be in these areas vis-à-vis the EU?

3. The Joint Report on the EU-Canada Scoping Exercise (PDF 105 KB)* notes that additional areas of mutual interest (e.g., culture, science and technology) could be included in a potential CETA. How would greater Canada-EU cooperation in such areas benefit Canada? What other areas of cooperation do you think are important for Canada to include in the CETA?

Cooperation on Climate Change and the Environment

1. How can Canada and the EU work together to achieve progress on climate change? What are the challenges posed and how can such challenges be overcome?

2. How can Canada-EU cooperation on energy policy contribute to sustainable energy and resource production and use?

eDiscussion Resources

Before posting to the eDiscussion we strongly suggest you read or watch the international policy content presented on this site. We provide reports, netcasts and links to other resources to help frame our discussion.