Thank you António,  

Prime Minister,  

Dear Mark, 

At our last summit, we honored the beauty of Newfoundland, a place significant to me due to my husbands experience there during 9/11. We felt the warmth of the Newfoundland people. Now, Ive enjoyed Albertas beauty in Kananaskis. Mark, you lead a vast nation, and I look forward to discovering more. António, we are eager to return to see where you will take us, perhaps to the Arctic, which is vital for both of us, and where we have affirmed EU support for our Greenlandic partners.  

Dear Mark,  

You assumed the G7 presidency in tough times, and you succeeded in uniting nations when unity is crucial. You highlighted pressing issues and promoted open dialogue, stating we must transform challenges into opportunities.  

Today, as we convene here in Brussels, we are making significant strides to enhance our strategic partnership. Let’s start with defense. Canada and the EU have collaborated closely on this front, both bilaterally and through NATO. Canada has led NATOs Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia since 2014, strengthening Europes eastern flank. Today, we are enhancing our cooperation further. As you mentioned, we signed a Security and Defence Partnership, bolstering Canadas role in Europes evolving defense framework. This is just the beginning. We will soon initiate discussions on Canadas access to our joint military procurement instrument, SAFE, which amounts to EUR 150 billion. Together, we will identify key areas for joint investments, benefiting our industries, our people, and transatlantic security. This also supports Ukraine, as investing in its innovative industry enhances its defense capabilities.  

Dear Mark,  

Canadas generosity towards Ukraine is commendable, training nearly 45,000 troops and welcoming refugees. Ukraine needs our support now more than ever. As you stated in Kananaskis last week, we are committed to exploring further sanctions to pressure Russia into negotiations. The EU and its Member States have mobilized almost EUR 150 billion to support Ukraine. We must plan for continued support into 2026 and beyond, with our focus shifting to the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome in July. Canada, as a key donor, is providing significant financial and technical assistance for reconstruction projects.  

In Kananaskis, we discussed the importance of open and stable trade among partners, a foundation of our prosperity. CETA exemplifies this success, showing a 71% trade increase since 2017. In 2023 alone, trade reached an impressive EUR 123 billion. Thanks to CETA, the EUs GDP increases by EUR 3.2 billion annually, while Canada benefits by EUR 1.3 billion each year. CETA symbolizes the power of free trade, with 98% of our tariff lines at zero. We are committed to completing the ratification process.  

Now, let’s discuss economic security.  

Critical raw materials are central to our efforts. Canada is uniquely positioned with its resources, exporting 90% of its mineral output, with the EU as its second-largest customer. We aim to deepen our cooperation with Canada by reinforcing our Strategic Partnership on Raw Materials. Our ambitions extend further; therefore, I am pleased to announce the launch of the EU-Canada Industrial Policy Dialogue. This forum will allow business leaders, government ministers, and Commissioners from the European Commission to explore ways to strengthen our transatlantic supply chains, particularly in sectors like clean technologies. 

Finally, let’s address technology and innovation. We have world-class talent on both sides of the Atlantic already collaborating through Horizon Europe, the largest innovation program globally. However, we must enhance our efforts to stay competitive in the global tech race, especially in digital innovation.   

Building on CETAs success, I am pleased we will initiate work towards a Digital Trade Agreement. Additionally, we should deepen our research collaboration in strategic technologies like quantum computing. Let’s connect our supercomputers and explore Canadas participation in our AI Factories initiative. As in defense, we must align our standards, aiming for mutual recognition of certifications for AI products, cybersecurity, and beyond. This year, we will hold the first EU-Canada Digital Partnership Council to advance our objectives further. 

Dear Mark,  

Thank you once more for this productive summit; it’s not over yet, as we have dinner ahead. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in the enduring friendship between Europe and Canada.