WEBVTT NOTE Brussels Live. Transcribed and translated automatically from the original sound. Mistakes are possible. Independent service, not affiliated with the European Parliament or the European Commission. Source: © European Union. AI-generated: Transcripts, translations and summaries on this site are generated automatically by AI: speech recognition (Soniox), machine translation and summaries (Mistral AI). Not edited by humans before publication. EU AI Act, Article 50. 00:00:01.150 --> 00:00:04.630 Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. 00:00:05.350 --> 00:00:09.491 My name is Éric Bédard. I am a partner at the law firm Fasken and I am here this 00:00:09.557 --> 00:00:14.742 morning in my capacity as a member of the board of directors of the CDR Institute to 00:00:14.813 --> 00:00:19.937 welcome you. Madam President, we are honoured to have you with us on the occasion of 00:00:20.001 --> 00:00:24.398 the Canada-European Union summit to hear your views on the future of this 00:00:24.449 --> 00:00:28.588 partnership. There could not be a better time for this conversation. 00:00:28.638 --> 00:00:35.801 But before I leave, let me say a few words about the CDR Institute. 00:00:35.882 --> 00:00:41.264 For nearly 70 years, the CDR Institute has had a mission to improve people's living 00:00:41.326 --> 00:00:46.797 standards in Canada through better public policies and produces independent, 00:00:46.895 --> 00:00:52.483 non-partisan, peer-reviewed research. This rigour and its reputation make it one of 00:00:52.524 --> 00:00:55.090 the most respected think tanks in Canada. 00:00:56.710 --> 00:01:01.025 It's influence is evident in the major debates that have shaped Canada, in the 00:01:01.083 --> 00:01:07.056 eighties, the Institute was at the heart of discussion on tackling inflation, and 00:01:07.136 --> 00:01:13.192 restoring sound public finances. Even today, its work on taxation, pension, and 00:01:13.270 --> 00:01:18.821 productivity continues to inform debate in Ottawa, Quebec, and all other provinces 00:01:18.908 --> 00:01:23.475 of Canada. The Institute has always placed international economic relations at the 00:01:23.530 --> 00:01:28.489 heart of its work, helping to shape the country's major trade decisions. 00:01:28.570 --> 00:01:33.362 From free trade with the United States to agreement with the European Union, which 00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:39.300 it recommended well before it was signed. Our prosperity depends in large part on 00:01:39.385 --> 00:01:44.870 international trade, and therefore on the strength of partnerships. 00:01:44.950 --> 00:01:50.841 And few partners are as natural as the European Union as we share values, we share 00:01:50.902 --> 00:01:53.650 history, and we share complementary economies. 00:01:54.490 --> 00:01:55.270 Madam President, 00:01:55.270 --> 00:01:58.569 we very much look forward to hearing from you shortly. 00:01:58.630 --> 00:02:04.480 I would like to warmly thank McGill University Max Bell School of Public Policy, our 00:02:04.550 --> 00:02:09.661 partner for this event, as well as the entire Institute team and I'm also proud to 00:02:09.716 --> 00:02:12.858 acknowledge the support of my firm Fasken. 00:02:13.030 --> 00:02:17.470 Without further ado, it's my pleasure to invite to the podium the President and CEO 00:02:17.530 --> 00:02:22.210 of the CDR Institute, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Jeremy Cronic. 00:02:32.350 --> 00:02:34.450 Merci, Éric. Good morning, everyone. 00:02:34.630 --> 00:02:39.942 Hello everyone. President von der Leyen, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 00:02:40.001 --> 00:02:41.650 welcome. Welcome to Montreal. 00:02:42.490 --> 00:02:45.850 It's an honor to host you at this special CDR Institute event in Montreal. 00:02:46.450 --> 00:02:49.330 It is an honour to welcome you to this very special event. 00:02:50.110 --> 00:02:52.750 It's a particular privilege to welcome the President of the European 00:02:52.990 --> 00:02:56.290 Commission, Madam President, thank you for being with us. 00:02:57.010 --> 00:03:00.405 Your presence ahead of the Canada-European Union Summit shows how much this 00:03:00.453 --> 00:03:04.859 relationship matters and underlines the opportunities that lie ahead. 00:03:04.930 --> 00:03:08.650 I'd like to thank our event sponsor, Fasken, and especially Éric Bédard, whose 00:03:08.690 --> 00:03:10.210 support made this morning possible. 00:03:11.050 --> 00:03:15.310 Many thanks to Fasken and to Éric Bédard, who made this meeting possible. 00:03:16.450 --> 00:03:20.602 I want to recognize Jonathan Wilkinson, Ambassador of Canada to the European Union, 00:03:20.655 --> 00:03:23.972 who's here with us today. I also want to highlight our partners in McGill 00:03:24.013 --> 00:03:27.974 University's Max Bell School of Public Policy and in particular Jennifer Welsh, 00:03:28.020 --> 00:03:31.270 Director of the School, and Pierre Boinvet, Chancellor of McGill. 00:03:31.750 --> 00:03:37.895 We are proud to work with an institution that shares our commitment to public debate 00:03:37.968 --> 00:03:39.670 and evidence-based policies. 00:03:40.810 --> 00:03:44.770 The CDR Institute is an independent, nonpartisan research institute; 00:03:44.950 --> 00:03:50.980 our mission is to improve the living standards of Canadians through economically 00:03:51.042 --> 00:03:52.450 sound public policies. 00:03:53.410 --> 00:03:57.935 For more than 65 years, we've brought together leaders from business, government, 00:03:57.998 --> 00:04:01.930 and academia to examine the issues shaping Canada's economic future. 00:04:02.050 --> 00:04:06.851 We believe rigorous analysis, open debate, and constructive engagement make for 00:04:06.904 --> 00:04:09.790 better public policy especially when the stakes are highest. 00:04:11.050 --> 00:04:15.903 Few relationships matter as much for the future of Canada as those we have with 00:04:15.964 --> 00:04:17.050 Europe. 00:04:17.050 --> 00:04:21.248 Many decades of trade, investment, and cooperation have given us a strong 00:04:21.310 --> 00:04:26.521 foundation, we share democratic values, our commitment to the rule of law, and a 00:04:26.571 --> 00:04:30.988 conviction that open, rules-based economic relationships can deliver lasting 00:04:31.056 --> 00:04:35.646 prosperity. But the world is changing: geopolitical tensions, uncertainty in global 00:04:35.697 --> 00:04:39.266 trade, and growing concerns about economic and national security are testing 00:04:39.316 --> 00:04:40.630 long-standing assumptions. 00:04:41.290 --> 00:04:47.277 And in this context, closer cooperation between Canada and Europe is more important 00:04:47.349 --> 00:04:48.549 than ever. 00:04:49.030 --> 00:04:53.293 Our economies complement one another. Canada offers abundant energy, critical 00:04:53.350 --> 00:04:58.033 minerals, and resources, along with substantial strength in emerging technologies, 00:04:58.090 --> 00:05:03.357 the European Union brings advanced manufacturing, technological expertise, and a 00:05:03.419 --> 00:05:08.480 market of 450 million people. These strengths create opportunities to diversify 00:05:08.530 --> 00:05:12.252 trade, attract investment, and build more resilient supply chains. 00:05:12.310 --> 00:05:16.570 The challenge now is to turn those strengths into results, more investment, greater 00:05:16.630 --> 00:05:20.960 trade, deeper cooperation on innovation and security, and a more ambitious economic 00:05:21.010 --> 00:05:24.790 partnership. And that's why this week's summit is so important. 00:05:25.090 --> 00:05:30.436 This summit is an opportunity to go beyond our shared foundations and set concrete 00:05:30.497 --> 00:05:31.930 priorities for the years ahead. 00:05:32.290 --> 00:05:36.190 à venir. At Montreal is a fitting place for these discussions. 00:05:36.370 --> 00:05:38.350 A city that has deep ties with Europe 00:05:38.470 --> 00:05:42.366 and where the CDR Institute itself began more than 65 years ago. 00:05:42.490 --> 00:05:47.416 It is also a hub of reflection and engagement on international affairs and a natural 00:05:47.470 --> 00:05:49.150 place for hosting heads of state and 00:05:49.270 --> 00:05:52.977 governments such as those represented by the International Relations Council of 00:05:53.021 --> 00:05:56.025 Montreal, which is represented here today. 00:05:56.069 --> 00:06:00.170 It now gives me great pleasure to introduce our guest of honour, Ursula von der 00:06:00.234 --> 00:06:00.670 Leyen, 00:06:00.670 --> 00:06:02.786 trained as a physician before entering politics. 00:06:02.830 --> 00:06:07.698 Her career began at the local and regional levels in Germany, from 2005 to 2019 she 00:06:07.774 --> 00:06:12.657 served in the German federal government, leading the ministry responsible for family 00:06:12.708 --> 00:06:17.630 and youth, labor, and defense. In 2019 she became the first woman to serve as 00:06:17.687 --> 00:06:21.359 President of the European Commission. Under her leadership the Commission has 00:06:21.397 --> 00:06:24.690 navigated some of Europe's most consequential recent challenges: 00:06:24.752 --> 00:06:28.846 the global pandemic, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and the resulting 00:06:28.930 --> 00:06:33.610 energy crisis. In July 2024 she was re-elected for a second term. 00:06:33.790 --> 00:06:38.642 His mandate aims to build a more competitive Europe, and a more independent one, to 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:42.430 defend democracy and to strengthen European defence and security. 00:06:43.330 --> 00:06:47.315 Canada shares many of these priorities, particularly when it comes to economic 00:06:47.374 --> 00:06:49.330 competitiveness, trade, and security. 00:06:49.870 --> 00:06:54.262 Madam President, thank you again for being with us in Montreal at such an important 00:06:54.298 --> 00:06:55.150 moment. 00:06:55.150 --> 00:06:58.510 We look forward to hearing your vision for the future of the Canada-European Union 00:06:58.570 --> 00:07:02.022 relationship. So, ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the President of 00:07:02.065 --> 00:07:04.210 the European Commission, Madame Ursula von der Leyen. 00:07:14.470 --> 00:07:18.745 Thank you very much. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. 00:07:18.790 --> 00:07:27.010 It's such an honor to be here at the historic Mount Royal Club, and let me start by 00:07:27.070 --> 00:07:33.782 thanking you, President Cronic, of the CDR Institute, for hosting us here today. 00:07:33.850 --> 00:07:39.215 I would also like to extend my gratitude to you, Director Welch of the Max Bell 00:07:39.285 --> 00:07:46.075 School of Public Policy, for organizing this event, and let me also thank Chancellor 00:07:46.150 --> 00:07:54.421 Pierre Biovain, Ambassador Jonathan Wilkinson, and Monsieur Éric Bédard. 00:07:54.730 --> 00:08:02.925 Ladies and gentlemen, the same year as this historic club was built, in 1906, a 00:08:03.019 --> 00:08:09.460 young Frenchman arrived in Canada to sell cognac. 00:08:09.730 --> 00:08:15.840 And he was struck by the sense of dynamism and possibility he found here. 00:08:16.150 --> 00:08:24.899 No one thought about limits. He later wrote, "No one knew where the frontier was." 00:08:25.030 --> 00:08:31.518 That young man was Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, 00:08:31.649 --> 00:08:39.027 and that period in his life in Canada would influence the way he saw the world. 00:08:39.310 --> 00:08:44.798 And it could even be argued that it would later help to change the course of 00:08:44.890 --> 00:08:52.005 European history. Because it was here that Monnet discovered that people from 00:08:52.059 --> 00:08:59.065 different backgrounds and regions would cooperate, were interests aligned, or were 00:08:59.144 --> 00:09:07.290 the scale of a task required. It was also here that he learned to see how a society 00:09:07.390 --> 00:09:14.484 and markets build across borders, could also build prosperity, and links between 00:09:14.588 --> 00:09:22.072 people and nations. And it helped shape his later belief that Europeans could move 00:09:22.150 --> 00:09:29.544 past their old national rivalries. In the decades after his travels to Canada, he 00:09:29.606 --> 00:09:34.466 would live through the horrors of two world wars. 00:09:34.630 --> 00:09:42.753 But he would go on to imagine a radically new way for European nations to live and 00:09:42.884 --> 00:09:50.696 work together in peace. The frontiers would be different, but the spirit he found 00:09:50.768 --> 00:09:57.563 here in Canada—the willingness to move beyond familiar limits—would find a new 00:09:57.618 --> 00:10:03.133 expression in the European project. So it was the foundation of what we know today 00:10:03.230 --> 00:10:11.830 as the European Union. It is the same pioneering spirit we must embrace today. 00:10:11.950 --> 00:10:17.093 And I'm delighted as I've heard that we are joined today by students from the Centre 00:10:17.151 --> 00:10:18.550 Jean Monnet de Montréal, 00:10:19.690 --> 00:10:26.187 who are keeping that flame alive today, and I see the faces that are now full of 00:10:26.344 --> 00:10:32.650 glee who are the students among us. I'm delighted that we are joined here by you, 00:10:32.710 --> 00:10:35.923 because you are keeping that flame, as I said. 00:10:36.010 --> 00:10:45.224 Alive. Dear students, the years Jean Monnet spent as a young man across the Atlantic 00:10:45.310 --> 00:10:53.063 reshaped his sense of possibility. And we are following his footsteps, but it has 00:10:53.148 --> 00:11:01.582 become clear that there is much, much more that we can do together bilaterally. 00:11:01.750 --> 00:11:08.325 Canada and the European Union. Are two complementary systems. 00:11:08.410 --> 00:11:13.764 Of course Canada cannot become a full-fledged member of the European Union because 00:11:13.903 --> 00:11:20.389 of geography. But we both want to bring our relationship to the highest level 00:11:20.511 --> 00:11:28.713 possible. And this is why we're discussing the idea of Canada becoming the first 00:11:28.810 --> 00:11:35.410 associate member of the European Union. Our idea is simple. 00:11:35.530 --> 00:11:44.278 It is an accession— That we would not look at, but it is an association with 00:11:44.395 --> 00:11:51.438 out-accession. But we can replace accession with a common ambition and vision. 00:11:51.550 --> 00:11:57.048 We can build a partnership that comes closer to membership than anything we've done 00:11:57.184 --> 00:12:06.384 before. So how do we get there? First, it means closer alignment on policies. 00:12:06.550 --> 00:12:13.904 We can work on everything, from AI and climate to energy and security, you just name 00:12:13.993 --> 00:12:18.347 it. Second, it means closer alignment on governance. 00:12:18.430 --> 00:12:24.995 It means more work shared by the European Commission and the Canadian government, 00:12:25.083 --> 00:12:30.996 for example. The cooperation could also entail parliament to parliament, between our 00:12:31.104 --> 00:12:36.785 two parliaments. And court to court. And third. 00:12:36.850 --> 00:12:41.090 This means closer alignment on each other's programs. 00:12:41.170 --> 00:12:48.975 While Monnet made his journey in one direction, many have done the reverse and 00:12:49.036 --> 00:12:53.143 returned with new ways of seeing the world. 00:12:53.350 --> 00:13:01.288 Just. Think of the painter Emily Carr, whose time studying in France transformed her 00:13:01.454 --> 00:13:10.016 so much that she saw her native Canada in a completely new light of landscapes, that 00:13:10.090 --> 00:13:18.658 she's never seen before. Or take Dr. Joseph Ernest Gendreau, who studied under Marie 00:13:18.754 --> 00:13:24.391 Curie and came home to found Canada's first Center for Cancer Research and 00:13:24.439 --> 00:13:25.639 Treatment. 00:13:27.250 --> 00:13:32.935 Now, we should give the new generation the chance to make discoveries of their own. 00:13:33.010 --> 00:13:39.694 And this is why we will deepen Canada's engagement in Europe's Erasmus program, so 00:13:39.766 --> 00:13:46.699 that more young people have a chance to meet and learn from one another. 00:13:46.870 --> 00:13:51.869 We're also working to strengthen Canada's participation in the next generation of 00:13:51.998 --> 00:13:59.164 Horizon Europe, so that our most brilliant minds—researchers and scientists—can 00:13:59.290 --> 00:14:06.262 collaborate and innovate together. And we're working together on skills and 00:14:06.346 --> 00:14:11.807 qualifications. So that professionals can work more easily on both sides of the 00:14:11.902 --> 00:14:20.094 Atlantic. So that's, in a nutshell, and much, much more what associate member is all 00:14:20.268 --> 00:14:27.835 about. Open only to our closest partners outside of Europe, who are ready to open a 00:14:27.892 --> 00:14:34.164 new frontier together, and to chart the course together. 00:14:34.330 --> 00:14:39.592 To. Think beyond the terms of our partnership today, towards the most ambitious 00:14:39.670 --> 00:14:46.000 version of what we can build. And I must say I can think of no better partner than 00:14:46.088 --> 00:14:52.708 Canada, to embark exactly on this journey with us. 00:14:52.930 --> 00:15:00.056 Ladies and gentlemen, in the last weeks and months, many of us in this room here 00:15:00.130 --> 00:15:06.017 have been brought to reflect on the bonds between Europe and Canada. 00:15:06.130 --> 00:15:13.644 They. Is a beautiful story that encapsulates all of that shared history and 00:15:13.781 --> 00:15:21.150 friendship. Over 80 years ago, George Emerson was one of the many Canadian soldiers 00:15:21.280 --> 00:15:25.955 involved in the liberation of the Netherlands. 00:15:26.050 --> 00:15:32.182 He was posted in the Dutch town of Enschede at the end of the war. 00:15:32.590 --> 00:15:39.599 From there, he would witness thousands of released prisoners of war making their way 00:15:39.711 --> 00:15:50.415 home on foot. And one day, he spotted a young man who was so frail—so emaciated—he 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:58.306 could barely walk. So he invited him into the house he was posted in to feed him and 00:15:58.414 --> 00:16:10.119 try to save his life. On parting, he. Was able to give the young man a lot of 00:16:10.241 --> 00:16:19.317 confidence. He did save his life, and the young man would go on his journey towards 00:16:19.443 --> 00:16:28.706 his home. And on parting, he was giving the young man—his name was Henk Metzeler—two 00:16:28.810 --> 00:16:37.758 bars of chocolate. Henk Metzeler—who survived, actually—spent the rest of his life 00:16:37.811 --> 00:16:39.250 wishing he could meet the Canadian 00:16:39.670 --> 00:16:44.695 soldier to thank him for saving his life. George. 00:16:44.770 --> 00:16:53.264 Emerson also asked himself whether. Henk had made it through the war alive. 00:16:53.530 --> 00:16:59.758 Well, it seemed destiny and a notion would keep the two men apart. 00:16:59.890 --> 00:17:07.181 Then one day, almost 70 years later, George Emerson entered the furniture store near 00:17:07.258 --> 00:17:13.674 Toronto to buy a new lounge chair. And he got talking to a saleswoman who he noticed 00:17:13.758 --> 00:17:19.210 was from a Dutch background. So he tells her the story of his encounter with a young 00:17:19.270 --> 00:17:26.410 man—the hungry young man in Enschede—the food, and the two chocolate bars. 00:17:26.530 --> 00:17:32.032 On hearing that story, the young lady burst into tears. 00:17:32.110 --> 00:17:40.365 Henk was her father. And it turns out he had been living in Toronto since the 1950s. 00:17:40.570 --> 00:17:45.827 George. Went to visit Henk in his nursing home on several occasions before he passed 00:17:45.907 --> 00:17:53.214 away. Each time bringing him a small bar of chocolate. 00:17:53.410 --> 00:17:59.813 Ladies and gentlemen, I think those small chocolate bars—this remarkable story of 00:17:59.903 --> 00:18:05.952 fate and destiny—capture something deeper about the friendship and the ties between 00:18:06.004 --> 00:18:17.069 Europe and Canada. Today, well over a century, after Monnet left Cognac for Canada, 00:18:17.170 --> 00:18:22.369 we are once again called upon to work on new frontiers together. 00:18:22.450 --> 00:18:26.886 Because the current moment in history calls for it. 00:18:27.070 --> 00:18:32.797 We are witnessing a deeper decay in international order, alliances and assumptions 00:18:32.846 --> 00:18:38.945 that have enabled our prosperity and security are changing rapidly. 00:18:39.070 --> 00:18:46.000 And each nation and region is looking at how to secure its own interests and its own 00:18:46.110 --> 00:18:52.088 independence. We can no longer let ourselves be shackled by the limits of the old 00:18:52.150 --> 00:19:00.704 world order. We know the risks here. But we also see a way forward, a new frontier. 00:19:00.790 --> 00:19:07.297 We need to imagine partnerships that are built on trust and driven by common 00:19:07.389 --> 00:19:14.236 interests and beliefs. As Mark Carney has said, the international orders will also 00:19:14.295 --> 00:19:18.938 be built from Europe, with Canada as part of it. 00:19:19.090 --> 00:19:23.740 End of quote. Our starting point is the same. 00:19:23.830 --> 00:19:30.366 In a world of growing rivalries, sovereignty and independence are no longer just the 00:19:30.432 --> 00:19:38.068 freedom to act alone, it is the capacity to act together. 00:19:38.230 --> 00:19:41.950 And this is why we will build an alliance for the future. 00:19:42.010 --> 00:19:48.892 And we start with Canada. Together, we want to create a common space for growth and 00:19:48.977 --> 00:19:54.012 prosperity, resilience, and economic security. 00:19:54.130 --> 00:19:59.868 And let me give you a few examples of what this means in practice. 00:20:00.070 --> 00:20:04.546 Take the issue of choke points and economic security. 00:20:04.810 --> 00:20:09.968 Global. Supply chains have made essential goods more accessible and affordable. 00:20:10.030 --> 00:20:17.908 So far, so good. But they also carry risks and choke points from one continent to 00:20:18.012 --> 00:20:25.030 the other. The ties of one single supplier—we once saw as guarantees of 00:20:25.126 --> 00:20:31.302 stability—are increasingly turned into instruments of pressure. 00:20:31.510 --> 00:20:37.874 Things. For example, of energy or semiconductors or critical raw materials. 00:20:37.990 --> 00:20:43.320 When trade becomes a tool of economic pressure, it's the families that pay the price 00:20:43.364 --> 00:20:47.952 from the supermarket shelf to the cost of a new car. 00:20:48.070 --> 00:20:53.367 We're seeing in real time our sovereignty being attacked. 00:20:53.470 --> 00:21:02.497 So we have two options here. To go it alone, to see this as a zero-sum game, where 00:21:02.570 --> 00:21:08.860 each country or economy focuses on building up its own leverage, its own 00:21:08.970 --> 00:21:17.185 capabilities, with the result that everyone feels less secure and more isolated, or. 00:21:17.290 --> 00:21:23.410 We can take a more strategic approach with trusted partners that face the same 00:21:23.493 --> 00:21:28.530 challenges, but have different assets to respond. 00:21:28.750 --> 00:21:36.474 And this is why the. European Union and Canada will build a single space for 00:21:36.550 --> 00:21:43.920 strategic supply chains in practice. This means joint or complementary investment, 00:21:43.984 --> 00:21:47.470 including private finances, on both sides. 00:21:47.590 --> 00:21:51.732 We will work on a project pipeline with investment banks, export banks, and 00:21:51.790 --> 00:21:58.219 infrastructure banks on both sides. And we want to ensure that companies can access 00:21:58.270 --> 00:22:05.934 opportunities in each other's markets. Or take the topic of critical raw materials. 00:22:06.010 --> 00:22:12.666 You mentioned it: Canada has rich resources, and deep mining expertise. 00:22:12.790 --> 00:22:16.769 Europe brings industrial demand, technology, and investment. 00:22:16.870 --> 00:22:21.084 So we are complementary across the whole value chain. 00:22:21.250 --> 00:22:25.530 From extracting minerals to processing them. 00:22:25.930 --> 00:22:34.227 From deploying advanced technologies and advanced materials to recycling them. 00:22:34.330 --> 00:22:38.234 And this is why we established our strategic partnership on raw materials, for 00:22:38.287 --> 00:22:39.487 example. 00:22:39.970 --> 00:22:44.359 And this example is showing by now already real results. 00:22:44.470 --> 00:22:51.387 Last year, imports of Canadian critical raw materials to the European Union jumped 00:22:51.488 --> 00:22:58.090 by 62% in value. That means reaching an impressive 3. 00:22:58.270 --> 00:23:04.970 3 billion euros, or that is 5. 18 billion Canadian dollars. 00:23:05.110 --> 00:23:09.210 This includes materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite. 00:23:09.310 --> 00:23:14.353 Materials we need for electric vehicles. For clean energy. 00:23:14.470 --> 00:23:20.668 For the industries of the future. And this is driving growth on both sides of the 00:23:20.841 --> 00:23:28.069 Atlantic. Or take. For example, CETA, our milestone-free trade agreement. 00:23:28.210 --> 00:23:32.962 Thanks to CETA bilateral trade has grown more than 80%. 00:23:33.070 --> 00:23:36.412 It has opened new doors for our businesses. 00:23:36.490 --> 00:23:41.761 From the French manufacturer winning new contracts in Canadian cities, to the family 00:23:41.830 --> 00:23:47.887 business in Ontario, that doubled its exports to Europe, for example. 00:23:48.010 --> 00:23:54.924 And we need to go further. Take artificial intelligence. 00:23:55.030 --> 00:24:01.634 Our industry's increasingly dependent on access to these technologies. 00:24:01.810 --> 00:24:10.315 And when that access rests on a few big companies, decisions taken elsewhere can put 00:24:10.382 --> 00:24:14.973 our businesses and essential services at risk. 00:24:15.130 --> 00:24:20.819 So this is also why we are teaming up, both Canada and Europe, believe, this 00:24:20.921 --> 00:24:26.496 technology should serve people. So we will work together to tackle head-on the 00:24:26.565 --> 00:24:33.012 safety and security issues of runaway AI. We will develop together rules and 00:24:33.070 --> 00:24:41.050 standards and strong global governance. We put human agency first. 00:24:41.350 --> 00:24:47.193 And. This will allow us to draw greater value from AI, to develop our own 00:24:47.264 --> 00:24:54.176 capabilities together, to invest in AI infrastructure, to bring our researchers 00:24:54.230 --> 00:25:01.516 together on joint projects, and to help our deep tech startups compete globally. 00:25:01.690 --> 00:25:08.510 Example, just last month, Germany's Aleph Alpha and Canada's Cohere announced a 00:25:08.632 --> 00:25:15.321 merger. To create a transatlantic sovereign AI company. 00:25:15.490 --> 00:25:20.136 So we are already seeing strong appetite for teaming up. 00:25:20.290 --> 00:25:25.670 And tomorrow we will finalize our agreement to bring Canada into Europe's 00:25:25.750 --> 00:25:31.396 infrastructure for supercomputing. Europe is home of some of the world's best 00:25:31.450 --> 00:25:37.145 supercomputers, we have 12 state-of-the-art supercomputers located across Europe, 00:25:37.231 --> 00:25:41.470 and Canada will now become part of this network. 00:25:42.670 --> 00:25:49.146 This enables Canadian industry, startups, researchers, not only to access European 00:25:49.199 --> 00:25:54.078 supercomputing, but to train their models on our supercomputers. 00:25:54.190 --> 00:26:02.039 And paired with Canada's pioneering AI industry, this would allow us to develop 00:26:02.117 --> 00:26:08.257 highly competitive, innovative, and safe AI systems. 00:26:08.530 --> 00:26:15.884 Ladies. And gentlemen, our. Common vision for the future depends also on our ability 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:21.354 to secure our homelands and our neighborhoods. 00:26:21.490 --> 00:26:26.166 Our. Work on security is already a shared responsibility. 00:26:26.290 --> 00:26:31.781 Today, Canadian troops lead a multinational brigade, NATO brigade in Latvia, 00:26:31.870 --> 00:26:39.494 defending our eastern flank. Canada was the first non-European country to 00:26:39.555 --> 00:26:44.355 participate in SAFE, our joint defense procurement plan. 00:26:44.470 --> 00:26:51.036 And you have stood by our friends in Ukraine from the very start of Putin's war of 00:26:51.154 --> 00:26:57.684 aggression. I know that for many Canadians, this is deeply personal. 00:26:57.850 --> 00:27:01.544 More than a million Canadians have Ukrainian roots. 00:27:01.750 --> 00:27:08.249 And since 2022, you have welcomed hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians seeking 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:13.866 safety. You have been our partner in working to support the return of Ukrainian 00:27:13.963 --> 00:27:22.920 children kidnapped by Russia. Canada knows all too well the human cost of this war. 00:27:23.050 --> 00:27:30.382 And Canada understands what is at stake. The right of people to live in peace, to 00:27:30.507 --> 00:27:36.928 decide their future freely, these are the principles we defend together in Ukraine, 00:27:37.006 --> 00:27:43.224 and they guide us wherever our shared security is at stake. 00:27:43.450 --> 00:27:49.465 This. Includes also the Arctic. Earlier this month, just two weeks after Europe's 00:27:49.518 --> 00:27:56.366 Copernicus satellite was launched, it sent back a striking image of the Canadian 00:27:56.483 --> 00:28:03.621 Arctic archipelago. Images like these help us understand how the Arctic landscape is 00:28:03.724 --> 00:28:09.813 changing. And as the ice retreats, new routes are opening. 00:28:09.910 --> 00:28:16.927 Competition is intensifying. And here, geography brings Europe and Canada together. 00:28:17.050 --> 00:28:23.361 So do our interests. The Arctic is also part of the European Union. 00:28:23.410 --> 00:28:27.250 Three of our member states are Arctic countries, and more than half a million 00:28:27.310 --> 00:28:34.450 European citizens live in the Arctic. So when we see Russia rebuilding its Arctic 00:28:34.541 --> 00:28:37.330 military footprint, pursuing hybrid 00:28:37.450 --> 00:28:44.940 strategy against its neighbors, reshaping the security of the Arctic, it impacts the 00:28:45.025 --> 00:28:51.069 European Union and Canada as a whole. We have to act and change our strategic 00:28:51.130 --> 00:28:57.184 posture. And together with like-minded partners, Canada and the European Union, 00:28:57.250 --> 00:29:03.645 stand up for these values. And this is why we're developing, for example, joint 00:29:03.686 --> 00:29:08.166 projects across the region, from everything you can think of, of ocean monitoring, 00:29:08.250 --> 00:29:15.573 critical raw materials, or, for example, connectivity for remote communities. 00:29:15.730 --> 00:29:21.786 Ladies and. Gentlemen, this is a moment of extraordinary opportunity. 00:29:21.910 --> 00:29:29.308 But it's also a difficult moment. On both sides of the Atlantic, our citizens feel 00:29:29.422 --> 00:29:37.364 the strain. Many fear the future. What it will mean for their livelihoods, their 00:29:37.479 --> 00:29:45.301 families, their communities, but difficult moments also show us who we are, what we 00:29:45.447 --> 00:29:55.113 stand for, and who stands with us. And I think of the lines of a beloved poet of 00:29:55.237 --> 00:30:02.279 Montréal, Leonard Cohen, he has said, "There's a crack in everything. 00:30:02.350 --> 00:30:11.990 That's how the light gets in." For me, this is a song about resilience, even in 00:30:12.099 --> 00:30:18.847 uncertainty, we can choose hope; we can choose courage; 00:30:18.970 --> 00:30:24.704 we can choose a new beginning. And therefore, long live Canada, long live Europe, 00:30:24.748 --> 00:30:26.710 and thank you very much for your attention. 00:30:42.550 --> 00:30:45.430 Thank you. I'll take my stuff. 00:30:56.170 --> 00:31:03.330 Madam President, my name is Jennifer Welsh, and on behalf of all of us here present, 00:31:03.423 --> 00:31:10.664 and in particular the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University, I would 00:31:10.741 --> 00:31:13.930 like to thank you for joining us today. 00:31:15.010 --> 00:31:21.548 Thank you for providing your vision of not only those summit discussions, which 00:31:21.610 --> 00:31:27.413 begin today, but the future of the relationship between Canada and the European 00:31:27.482 --> 00:31:33.563 Union, and reminding us of the deep connections we've had for generations. 00:31:33.670 --> 00:31:38.941 The Max-Bel School is a teaching and research community that drives policy 00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:44.954 transformation, by sharing rigorous and independent analysis of society's toughest 00:31:45.032 --> 00:31:51.507 challenges, creating dynamic learning opportunities, and convening conversations 00:31:51.610 --> 00:32:00.704 that matter. Canada and the European Union are having a consequential conversation. 00:32:00.850 --> 00:32:08.530 A conversation about how to survive but also how to thrive in a new political 00:32:08.610 --> 00:32:16.477 context of geopolitical rivalry, growing protectionism, a digital arms race, an 00:32:16.580 --> 00:32:23.873 urgent energy transition, and attacks on the values and institutions of democratic 00:32:23.950 --> 00:32:25.150 governance. 00:32:25.750 --> 00:32:33.103 But this conversation is also reflected in actions, through the development of a 00:32:33.189 --> 00:32:41.088 roadmap that you have detailed here, on how to turn challenges into opportunities. 00:32:41.196 --> 00:32:49.855 This is about building shared prosperity and security for our populations and 00:32:49.954 --> 00:32:58.156 guaranteeing strategic autonomy that enables us to protect and uphold our democratic 00:32:58.248 --> 00:32:59.448 way of life. 00:33:01.210 --> 00:33:05.893 The agreement and action plan that Canada and the EU are creating is part of a 00:33:05.950 --> 00:33:12.930 strategic realignment, and the most effective strategies take time. 00:33:13.210 --> 00:33:21.233 Canadians sense and know this. Our country is making a fundamental pivot. 00:33:21.430 --> 00:33:26.954 The investments you and our Prime Minister are setting into motion this week will 00:33:27.022 --> 00:33:34.020 yield some crucial results right away, but many will unfold over time. 00:33:34.270 --> 00:33:40.048 That is why I believe your speech today and this summit is building and showcasing 00:33:40.095 --> 00:33:45.190 something else that is desperately needed, in this more unstable international 00:33:45.250 --> 00:33:53.917 environment. Friendship, amitié. A common refrain over the last few years is that we 00:33:53.978 --> 00:33:57.508 live in a world of transactional politics. 00:33:57.610 --> 00:34:02.688 Or deals. One gives something, one gets something. 00:34:02.770 --> 00:34:08.763 Sometimes under duress. Alliances are considered old-fashioned. 00:34:08.830 --> 00:34:15.600 For the weak. Today's speech and the relationship Canada and the EU are building 00:34:15.670 --> 00:34:22.236 demonstrate the precise opposite. Friendship, with those who are like-minded, those 00:34:22.287 --> 00:34:30.532 who share a commitment to work hard, over the long haul, together, is an incredibly 00:34:30.635 --> 00:34:32.110 valuable commodity. 00:34:33.490 --> 00:34:41.106 The friendship between Canada and the European Union is a precious asset for this 00:34:41.214 --> 00:34:42.670 decade and beyond. 00:34:43.990 --> 00:34:49.334 Madam President, as you've noted, there are McGill students and researchers here 00:34:49.402 --> 00:34:56.005 today who are excited and prepared to capitalize on that continuous 00:34:56.079 --> 00:35:01.630 friendship-building and the long-term co-investments that the EU and Canada will 00:35:01.690 --> 00:35:07.350 discuss over the next two days. It is they who will benefit from the opportunities 00:35:07.430 --> 00:35:13.033 to learn and study in our jurisdictions, and to form research collaborations that 00:35:13.090 --> 00:35:19.880 will deliver the kind of knowledge and innovation that the world's best universities 00:35:19.986 --> 00:35:26.251 can deliver. And that both Europe and Canada need for this 21st century. 00:35:26.350 --> 00:35:33.042 Our universities and yours are committed allies in the fight to preserve and 00:35:33.130 --> 00:35:39.861 continue building prosperous and dynamic democratic societies. 00:35:40.030 --> 00:35:46.600 Please know that in Canada's universities, and public policy schools, and especially 00:35:46.690 --> 00:35:53.590 in McGill and the Max-Bel School, the EU has a willing partner, a friend, to work 00:35:53.650 --> 00:35:56.975 with you in the coming months and years ahead. 00:35:57.070 --> 00:36:03.573 We wish you and your Canadian counterparts huge success in the summit, and we thank 00:36:03.640 --> 00:36:05.710 you all for joining us this morning. 00:36:06.250 --> 00:36:07.450 Thank you. 00:36:18.190 --> 00:36:19.390 Thank you, everyone.