Politics · Canada · 2 hrs ago
Canada and EU to begin formal talks on a deeper partnership
Canada and the European Union are preparing formal talks on a deeper partnership, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday.
Carney is due to meet EU President Ursula von der Leyen and other officials in Montreal on Thursday and Friday, where they are expected to announce the next stage of the relationship.
The negotiations are expected to continue over the next year, but the exact shape of a possible agreement has not been settled.
The discussions could cover cooperation on critical minerals, technology, defence and clean energy, as well as opportunities for students and workers.
The talks do not mean free movement between Canada and Europe; officials have said any worker mobility would focus on specialized areas of mutual benefit.
Canada has also discussed joining Erasmus+, the EU student exchange program, while a Conservative critic has called for more detail on possible effects on jobs, housing and health care.
The summit is expected to set the next stage of negotiations, with further decisions to come as the talks proceed.
The Canada-EU summit in Montreal is set to launch formal negotiations on a deeper partnership over the next year, Prime Minister Mark Carney said.
Carney is due to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other EU officials on Thursday and Friday.
The potential partnership could cover research, critical minerals, technology, defence, clean energy and opportunities for students and businesses.
Canadian officials say discussions about labour mobility would focus on specialized areas, not free movement between Canada and Europe.
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner called for transparency about any immigration deal and its effects on Canadians.
- Who
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and EU President Ursula von der Leyen, along with other EU officials.
- What
- The summit is set to launch formal negotiations on a deeper Canada-EU partnership over the next year.
- When
- The summit is scheduled for Thursday and Friday this week. Carney spoke about it on Tuesday.
- Where
- Montreal, Canada.
- Why
- The negotiations aim to develop a closer partnership, with possible opportunities for students, workers, businesses and research.
Canadian government
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner
Immigration policy
Canadian government
Carney said the deal’s name matters less than its effects and described possible opportunities for Canadians.
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner
Rempel Garner said Canadians need transparency about any EU immigration deal and its impact on jobs, homes and health care.
Labour mobility
Canadian government
Canadian ambassador Jonathan Wilkinson said discussions concern specialized areas and do not involve free movement of labour.
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner
Rempel Garner warned that immigration levels are already too high and have contributed to fewer jobs and lower pay, according to her statement.
Von der Leyen said the new arrangement could make Canada an “associate” member of the EU.
Carney spoke about the proposed alliance to the EU Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
Carney said the Montreal summit would launch formal negotiations over the next year.
Carney is due to meet von der Leyen and other EU officials in Montreal.
- Summit location
- Montreal
- Formal negotiations
- Expected to continue over the next year
- Meeting dates
- Thursday and Friday this week
- EU membership
- The bloc has 27 members; the article says “associate membership” does not exist in the EU
- Student exchange
- Canada has discussed joining the EU’s Erasmus+ program
- Labour mobility
- Discussions are focused on specialized areas, not free movement of labour
5 sources
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What people are saying
This is the launch of further formal discussions, negotiations, over the course of the next year
It doesn’t matter about specific names or nomenclature. What matters is the difference that it will make to lives of Canadians, young Canadians, in terms of opportunities to study work and travel, our Canadian businesses in terms of new opportunities
We’re not talking about free movement of labour between Europe and Canada. But what we are talking about is, in some specialized areas, it may be actually interesting and useful for both countries to have the ability to tap into labour pools
Canadians deserve transparency on any EU immigration deal and how it would impact our jobs, homes, and health care