Bloomberg reported on September 9 that the EU and Canada are working hard to establish a new, all-encompassing relationship, extending from trade to security areas, in order to create a transatlantic alliance to balance the influence of major powers such as the United States and China.
Reports say that EU officials believe the EU may establish a closer relationship with Canada than with the UK, as Ottawa does not carry the “Brexit burden” that London does.
According to people familiar with the preparations, European Commission Chairwoman Von der Leyen is expected to announce the plan during her annual “State of the Union” speech in Strasbourg, France on September 16. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau will attend this speech and will also speak to European Parliament members the following day.
These insiders said that the European Union’s implementing agencies are thinking in more creative ways about how to develop relations with Canada, hoping to find cooperation models that go beyond traditional partnerships. As these discussions are private consultations, these individuals requested anonymity.
According to one insider, ideologically, Canada is the non-European country that is closest to the European Union. This insider noted that Canada is successfully advancing its so-called ‘sovereignty agenda’ in economic and defense matters, and this approach could serve as a model for the European Union’s efforts to reduce its external dependence.
A Canadian official who did not want to be named said that the Kanemi government has made deepening its partnership with the European Union one of its top priorities, and is actively considering all possibilities beyond formal membership in the EU. The discussions are particularly focused on ‘strategic capabilities’, such as cooperation in defense, space exploration, and scientific research.
Earlier this year, Carney gave a striking speech in Davos. He warned that the “rules-based international order” was actually dead, and called for so-called “middle-sized powers” to create a new global framework to counter the pressures and coercion exerted by the world’s major powers.
According to Bloomberg's report, a spokesperson for Cardin's office refused to comment. The content of Fiedler's speech next week is still in the draft stage and may change before it is officially released.
According to people familiar with the matter, the relevant arrangements aim to cover all areas of bilateral relations, including trade, security, supply chains, and key raw materials.
Recently, the United States and Canada have engaged in a trade war. At the same time, Trump has repeatedly criticized the EU's trade policies and continues to show interest in including Greenland as part of the United States.
According to an insider, without joining the EU, the EU and Canada hope to draw closer to each other within legal limits. Both sides also discussed the possibility of cooperating through the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP), of which Canada is a member country.
A senior official from the European Union indicated that the EU's current approach to contact with Canada is similar to its engagement in South America and India, but Ottawa's proposed collaborative framework is more ambitious. This official further stated that security and defense are natural areas for further strengthening bilateral relations.
In May last year, the Council of the EU officially approved the establishment of the "European Security Action" initiative, providing financial support totaling 150 billion euros for member states to purchase security and defense equipment. Canada became the first non-EU country to join "European Security Action". This means that Canadian defense companies can participate in competition for European contracts, thereby creating job opportunities in Canada.
The European Union and Canada plan to hold a summit in Canada this October.
