EU-Canada: 1 year in review

EU-Canada: 1 year in review

On September 1, 2024, Geneviève Tuts began her tenure as head of the EU delegation to Canada.

A review of an eventful year for EU-Canada relations, in a destabilized geopolitical context and Canada's G7 presidency: a year highlighted by our joint and unwavering support for Ukraine, the implementation and promotion of CETA, and our commitment to new areas of cooperation agreed upon at the EU-Canada Summit in June.

In 2024, Ottawa welcomed eleven new ambassadors from EU member states. With the inauguration of the Embassy of Luxembourg, the EU is now present with 27 heads of mission.

They had the opportunity to engage in high-level discussions with, among others, Mélanie Joly, then Minister of Foreign Affairs, the deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel, Senator Peter Boehm, and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the Belarusian democratic forces. 18 of them traveled to Manitoba as part of "Team Europe," at the initiative of the delegation, to meet with Premier Wab Kinew and his cabinet to discuss trade opportunities with the EU. They also exchanged views with business leaders and Indigenous representatives.

In March, HR/VP Kaja Kallas visited Charlevoix, Quebec, for the G7 Foreign Affairs meeting. Her visit followed in May with EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis for the G7 Finance meeting in Banff, Alberta. In June, Geneviève Tuts accompanied European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen to the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. In July, Executive Vice-President and Commissioner of EU Business, Stéphane Séjourné, traveled to Ottawa for the launch of the industrial policy dialogue with Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly.

On each occasion, the delegation reiterated the EU's unwavering support for Ukraine, notably by taking part in the "Friends of Ukraine" meetings.

The most significant event for the bilateral relationship was the EU-Canada summit in Brussels on June 23. The new Prime Minister Mark Carney, the President of the European Council, and the President of the Commission reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their strategic partnership and dedicating themselves to new areas of cooperation. Security and defense, strengthening our trade relations and expanding CETA, AI, and the digital partnership were among the topics discussed and commitments made. The summit concluded with an ambitious joint declaration (https://shorturl.at/ThXid))

The entire team at the EU Delegation has dedicated itself to promoting EU values and defending fundamental rights. Thanks to FPI, the Delegation has developed many public diplomacy projects including cooperation on research under Horizon Europe.