Brussels Live · Press conference 2026-10-29
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[14:56:58] Speaker 1 [EN]
Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

[14:57:02] Speaker 1 [FR]
My name is Éric Bédard. I am a partner at the law firm Fasken and I am here this morning in my capacity as a member of the board of directors of the CDR Institute to welcome you. Madam President, we are honoured to have you with us on the occasion of the Canada-European Union summit to hear your views on the future of this partnership. There could not be a better time for this conversation. But before I leave, let me say a few words about the CDR Institute. For nearly 70 years, the CDR Institute has had a mission to improve people's living standards in Canada through better public policies and produces independent, non-partisan, peer-reviewed research. This rigour and its reputation make it one of the most respected think tanks in Canada.

[14:57:53] Speaker 1 [EN]
It's influence is evident in the major debates that have shaped Canada, in the eighties, the Institute was at the heart of discussion on tackling inflation, and restoring sound public finances. Even today, its work on taxation, pension, and productivity continues to inform debate in Ottawa, Quebec, and all other provinces of Canada. The Institute has always placed international economic relations at the heart of its work, helping to shape the country's major trade decisions. From free trade with the United States to agreement with the European Union, which it recommended well before it was signed. Our prosperity depends in large part on international trade, and therefore on the strength of partnerships. And few partners are as natural as the European Union as we share values, we share history, and we share complementary economies.

[14:58:51] Speaker 1 [FR]
Madam President,

[14:58:52] Speaker 1 [EN]
we very much look forward to hearing from you shortly. I would like to warmly thank McGill University Max Bell School of Public Policy, our partner for this event, as well as the entire Institute team and I'm also proud to acknowledge the support of my firm Fasken. Without further ado, it's my pleasure to invite to the podium the President and CEO of the CDR Institute, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Jeremy Cronic.

[14:59:29] Speaker 2 [EN]
Merci, Éric. Good morning, everyone.

[14:59:31] Speaker 2 [FR]
Hello everyone. President von der Leyen, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Welcome to Montreal.

[14:59:39] Speaker 2 [EN]
It's an honor to host you at this special CDR Institute event in Montreal.

[14:59:43] Speaker 2 [FR]
It is an honour to welcome you to this very special event.

[14:59:47] Speaker 2 [EN]
It's a particular privilege to welcome the President of the European

[14:59:49] Speaker 2 [FR]
Commission, Madam President, thank you for being with us.

[14:59:54] Speaker 2 [EN]
Your presence ahead of the Canada-European Union Summit shows how much this relationship matters and underlines the opportunities that lie ahead. I'd like to thank our event sponsor, Fasken, and especially Éric Bédard, whose support made this morning possible.

[15:00:08] Speaker 2 [FR]
Many thanks to Fasken and to Éric Bédard, who made this meeting possible.

[15:00:13] Speaker 2 [EN]
I want to recognize Jonathan Wilkinson, Ambassador of Canada to the European Union, who's here with us today. I also want to highlight our partners in McGill University's Max Bell School of Public Policy and in particular Jennifer Welsh, Director of the School, and Pierre Boinvet, Chancellor of McGill.

[15:00:28] Speaker 2 [FR]
We are proud to work with an institution that shares our commitment to public debate and evidence-based policies.

[15:00:37] Speaker 2 [EN]
The CDR Institute is an independent, nonpartisan research institute;

[15:00:41] Speaker 2 [FR]
our mission is to improve the living standards of Canadians through economically sound public policies.

[15:00:50] Speaker 2 [EN]
For more than 65 years, we've brought together leaders from business, government, and academia to examine the issues shaping Canada's economic future. We believe rigorous analysis, open debate, and constructive engagement make for better public policy especially when the stakes are highest.

[15:01:08] Speaker 2 [FR]
Few relationships matter as much for the future of Canada as those we have with Europe.

[15:01:14] Speaker 2 [EN]
Many decades of trade, investment, and cooperation have given us a strong foundation, we share democratic values, our commitment to the rule of law, and a conviction that open, rules-based economic relationships can deliver lasting prosperity. But the world is changing: geopolitical tensions, uncertainty in global trade, and growing concerns about economic and national security are testing long-standing assumptions.

[15:01:38] Speaker 2 [FR]
And in this context, closer cooperation between Canada and Europe is more important than ever.

[15:01:46] Speaker 2 [EN]
Our economies complement one another. Canada offers abundant energy, critical minerals, and resources, along with substantial strength in emerging technologies, the European Union brings advanced manufacturing, technological expertise, and a market of 450 million people. These strengths create opportunities to diversify trade, attract investment, and build more resilient supply chains. The challenge now is to turn those strengths into results, more investment, greater trade, deeper cooperation on innovation and security, and a more ambitious economic partnership. And that's why this week's summit is so important.

[15:02:22] Speaker 2 [FR]
This summit is an opportunity to go beyond our shared foundations and set concrete priorities for the years ahead.

[15:02:29] Speaker 2 [EN]
à venir. At Montreal is a fitting place for these discussions.

[15:02:33] Speaker 2 [FR]
A city that has deep ties with Europe

[15:02:35] Speaker 2 [EN]
and where the CDR Institute itself began more than 65 years ago. It is also a hub of reflection and engagement on international affairs and a natural place for hosting heads of state and

[15:02:46] Speaker 2 [FR]
governments such as those represented by the International Relations Council of Montreal, which is represented here today. It now gives me great pleasure to introduce our guest of honour, Ursula von der Leyen,

[15:02:57] Speaker 2 [EN]
trained as a physician before entering politics. Her career began at the local and regional levels in Germany, from 2005 to 2019 she served in the German federal government, leading the ministry responsible for family and youth, labor, and defense. In 2019 she became the first woman to serve as President of the European Commission. Under her leadership the Commission has navigated some of Europe's most consequential recent challenges: the global pandemic, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and the resulting energy crisis. In July 2024 she was re-elected for a second term.

[15:03:30] Speaker 2 [FR]
His mandate aims to build a more competitive Europe, and a more independent one, to defend democracy and to strengthen European defence and security.

[15:03:40] Speaker 2 [EN]
Canada shares many of these priorities, particularly when it comes to economic competitiveness, trade, and security.

[15:03:46] Speaker 2 [FR]
Madam President, thank you again for being with us in Montreal at such an important moment.

[15:03:52] Speaker 2 [EN]
We look forward to hearing your vision for the future of the Canada-European Union relationship. So, ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the President of the European Commission, Madame Ursula von der Leyen.

[15:04:11] Speaker 3 [EN]
Thank you very much. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It's such an honor to be here at the historic Mount Royal Club, and let me start by thanking you, President Cronic, of the CDR Institute, for hosting us here today. I would also like to extend my gratitude to you, Director Welch of the Max Bell School of Public Policy, for organizing this event, and let me also thank Chancellor Pierre Biovain, Ambassador Jonathan Wilkinson, and Monsieur Éric Bédard. Ladies and gentlemen, the same year as this historic club was built, in 1906, a young Frenchman arrived in Canada to sell cognac. And he was struck by the sense of dynamism and possibility he found here. No one thought about limits. He later wrote, "No one knew where the frontier was." That young man was Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, and that period in his life in Canada would influence the way he saw the world. And it could even be argued that it would later help to change the course of European history. Because it was here that Monnet discovered that people from different backgrounds and regions would cooperate, were interests aligned, or were the scale of a task required. It was also here that he learned to see how a society and markets build across borders, could also build prosperity, and links between people and nations. And it helped shape his later belief that Europeans could move past their old national rivalries. In the decades after his travels to Canada, he would live through the horrors of two world wars. But he would go on to imagine a radically new way for European nations to live and work together in peace. The frontiers would be different, but the spirit he found here in Canada—the willingness to move beyond familiar limits—would find a new expression in the European project. So it was the foundation of what we know today as the European Union. It is the same pioneering spirit we must embrace today. And I'm delighted as I've heard that we are joined today by students from the Centre Jean Monnet de Montréal,

[15:07:16] Speaker 3 [EN]
who are keeping that flame alive today, and I see the faces that are now full of glee who are the students among us. I'm delighted that we are joined here by you, because you are keeping that flame, as I said. Alive. Dear students, the years Jean Monnet spent as a young man across the Atlantic reshaped his sense of possibility. And we are following his footsteps, but it has become clear that there is much, much more that we can do together bilaterally. Canada and the European Union. Are two complementary systems. Of course Canada cannot become a full-fledged member of the European Union because of geography. But we both want to bring our relationship to the highest level possible. And this is why we're discussing the idea of Canada becoming the first associate member of the European Union. Our idea is simple. It is an accession— That we would not look at, but it is an association with out-accession. But we can replace accession with a common ambition and vision. We can build a partnership that comes closer to membership than anything we've done before. So how do we get there? First, it means closer alignment on policies. We can work on everything, from AI and climate to energy and security, you just name it. Second, it means closer alignment on governance. It means more work shared by the European Commission and the Canadian government, for example. The cooperation could also entail parliament to parliament, between our two parliaments. And court to court. And third. This means closer alignment on each other's programs. While Monnet made his journey in one direction, many have done the reverse and returned with new ways of seeing the world. Just. Think of the painter Emily Carr, whose time studying in France transformed her so much that she saw her native Canada in a completely new light of landscapes, that she's never seen before. Or take Dr. Joseph Ernest Gendreau, who studied under Marie Curie and came home to found Canada's first Center for Cancer Research and Treatment.

[15:10:24] Speaker 3 [EN]
Now, we should give the new generation the chance to make discoveries of their own. And this is why we will deepen Canada's engagement in Europe's Erasmus program, so that more young people have a chance to meet and learn from one another. We're also working to strengthen Canada's participation in the next generation of Horizon Europe, so that our most brilliant minds—researchers and scientists—can collaborate and innovate together. And we're working together on skills and qualifications. So that professionals can work more easily on both sides of the Atlantic. So that's, in a nutshell, and much, much more what associate member is all about. Open only to our closest partners outside of Europe, who are ready to open a new frontier together, and to chart the course together. To. Think beyond the terms of our partnership today, towards the most ambitious version of what we can build. And I must say I can think of no better partner than Canada, to embark exactly on this journey with us. Ladies and gentlemen, in the last weeks and months, many of us in this room here have been brought to reflect on the bonds between Europe and Canada. They. Is a beautiful story that encapsulates all of that shared history and friendship. Over 80 years ago, George Emerson was one of the many Canadian soldiers involved in the liberation of the Netherlands. He was posted in the Dutch town of Enschede at the end of the war. From there, he would witness thousands of released prisoners of war making their way home on foot. And one day, he spotted a young man who was so frail—so emaciated—he could barely walk. So he invited him into the house he was posted in to feed him and try to save his life. On parting, he. Was able to give the young man a lot of confidence. He did save his life, and the young man would go on his journey towards his home. And on parting, he was giving the young man—his name was Henk Metzeler—two bars of chocolate. Henk Metzeler—who survived, actually—spent the rest of his life wishing he could meet the Canadian

[15:13:36] Speaker 3 [EN]
soldier to thank him for saving his life. George. Emerson also asked himself whether. Henk had made it through the war alive. Well, it seemed destiny and a notion would keep the two men apart. Then one day, almost 70 years later, George Emerson entered the furniture store near Toronto to buy a new lounge chair. And he got talking to a saleswoman who he noticed was from a Dutch background. So he tells her the story of his encounter with a young man—the hungry young man in Enschede—the food, and the two chocolate bars. On hearing that story, the young lady burst into tears. Henk was her father. And it turns out he had been living in Toronto since the 1950s. George. Went to visit Henk in his nursing home on several occasions before he passed away. Each time bringing him a small bar of chocolate. Ladies and gentlemen, I think those small chocolate bars—this remarkable story of fate and destiny—capture something deeper about the friendship and the ties between Europe and Canada. Today, well over a century, after Monnet left Cognac for Canada, we are once again called upon to work on new frontiers together. Because the current moment in history calls for it. We are witnessing a deeper decay in international order, alliances and assumptions that have enabled our prosperity and security are changing rapidly. And each nation and region is looking at how to secure its own interests and its own independence. We can no longer let ourselves be shackled by the limits of the old world order. We know the risks here. But we also see a way forward, a new frontier. We need to imagine partnerships that are built on trust and driven by common interests and beliefs. As Mark Carney has said, the international orders will also be built from Europe, with Canada as part of it. End of quote. Our starting point is the same. In a world of growing rivalries, sovereignty and independence are no longer just the freedom to act alone, it is the capacity to act together. And this is why we will build an alliance for the future.

[15:16:39] Speaker 3 [EN]
And we start with Canada. Together, we want to create a common space for growth and prosperity, resilience, and economic security. And let me give you a few examples of what this means in practice. Take the issue of choke points and economic security. Global. Supply chains have made essential goods more accessible and affordable. So far, so good. But they also carry risks and choke points from one continent to the other. The ties of one single supplier—we once saw as guarantees of stability—are increasingly turned into instruments of pressure. Things. For example, of energy or semiconductors or critical raw materials. When trade becomes a tool of economic pressure, it's the families that pay the price from the supermarket shelf to the cost of a new car. We're seeing in real time our sovereignty being attacked. So we have two options here. To go it alone, to see this as a zero-sum game, where each country or economy focuses on building up its own leverage, its own capabilities, with the result that everyone feels less secure and more isolated, or. We can take a more strategic approach with trusted partners that face the same challenges, but have different assets to respond. And this is why the. European Union and Canada will build a single space for strategic supply chains in practice. This means joint or complementary investment, including private finances, on both sides. We will work on a project pipeline with investment banks, export banks, and infrastructure banks on both sides. And we want to ensure that companies can access opportunities in each other's markets. Or take the topic of critical raw materials. You mentioned it: Canada has rich resources, and deep mining expertise. Europe brings industrial demand, technology, and investment. So we are complementary across the whole value chain. From extracting minerals to processing them. From deploying advanced technologies and advanced materials to recycling them. And this is why we established our strategic partnership on raw materials, for example.

[15:19:36] Speaker 3 [EN]
And this example is showing by now already real results. Last year, imports of Canadian critical raw materials to the European Union jumped by 62% in value. That means reaching an impressive 3. 3 billion euros, or that is 5. 18 billion Canadian dollars. This includes materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite. Materials we need for electric vehicles. For clean energy. For the industries of the future. And this is driving growth on both sides of the Atlantic. Or take. For example, CETA, our milestone-free trade agreement. Thanks to CETA bilateral trade has grown more than 80%. It has opened new doors for our businesses. From the French manufacturer winning new contracts in Canadian cities, to the family business in Ontario, that doubled its exports to Europe, for example. And we need to go further. Take artificial intelligence. Our industry's increasingly dependent on access to these technologies. And when that access rests on a few big companies, decisions taken elsewhere can put our businesses and essential services at risk. So this is also why we are teaming up, both Canada and Europe, believe, this technology should serve people. So we will work together to tackle head-on the safety and security issues of runaway AI. We will develop together rules and standards and strong global governance. We put human agency first. And. This will allow us to draw greater value from AI, to develop our own capabilities together, to invest in AI infrastructure, to bring our researchers together on joint projects, and to help our deep tech startups compete globally. Example, just last month, Germany's Aleph Alpha and Canada's Cohere announced a merger. To create a transatlantic sovereign AI company. So we are already seeing strong appetite for teaming up. And tomorrow we will finalize our agreement to bring Canada into Europe's infrastructure for supercomputing. Europe is home of some of the world's best supercomputers, we have 12 state-of-the-art supercomputers located across Europe, and Canada will now become part of this network.

[15:22:39] Speaker 3 [EN]
This enables Canadian industry, startups, researchers, not only to access European supercomputing, but to train their models on our supercomputers. And paired with Canada's pioneering AI industry, this would allow us to develop highly competitive, innovative, and safe AI systems. Ladies. And gentlemen, our. Common vision for the future depends also on our ability to secure our homelands and our neighborhoods. Our. Work on security is already a shared responsibility. Today, Canadian troops lead a multinational brigade, NATO brigade in Latvia, defending our eastern flank. Canada was the first non-European country to participate in SAFE, our joint defense procurement plan. And you have stood by our friends in Ukraine from the very start of Putin's war of aggression. I know that for many Canadians, this is deeply personal. More than a million Canadians have Ukrainian roots. And since 2022, you have welcomed hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians seeking safety. You have been our partner in working to support the return of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia. Canada knows all too well the human cost of this war. And Canada understands what is at stake. The right of people to live in peace, to decide their future freely, these are the principles we defend together in Ukraine, and they guide us wherever our shared security is at stake. This. Includes also the Arctic. Earlier this month, just two weeks after Europe's Copernicus satellite was launched, it sent back a striking image of the Canadian Arctic archipelago. Images like these help us understand how the Arctic landscape is changing. And as the ice retreats, new routes are opening. Competition is intensifying. And here, geography brings Europe and Canada together. So do our interests. The Arctic is also part of the European Union. Three of our member states are Arctic countries, and more than half a million European citizens live in the Arctic. So when we see Russia rebuilding its Arctic military footprint, pursuing hybrid

[15:25:34] Speaker 3 [EN]
strategy against its neighbors, reshaping the security of the Arctic, it impacts the European Union and Canada as a whole. We have to act and change our strategic posture. And together with like-minded partners, Canada and the European Union, stand up for these values. And this is why we're developing, for example, joint projects across the region, from everything you can think of, of ocean monitoring, critical raw materials, or, for example, connectivity for remote communities. Ladies and. Gentlemen, this is a moment of extraordinary opportunity. But it's also a difficult moment. On both sides of the Atlantic, our citizens feel the strain. Many fear the future. What it will mean for their livelihoods, their families, their communities, but difficult moments also show us who we are, what we stand for, and who stands with us. And I think of the lines of a beloved poet of Montréal, Leonard Cohen, he has said, "There's a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." For me, this is a song about resilience, even in uncertainty, we can choose hope; we can choose courage; we can choose a new beginning. And therefore, long live Canada, long live Europe, and thank you very much for your attention.

[15:27:39] Speaker 1 [EN]
Thank you. I'll take my stuff.

[15:27:53] Speaker 2 [FR]
Madam President, my name is Jennifer Welsh, and on behalf of all of us here present, and in particular the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University, I would like to thank you for joining us today.

[15:28:12] Speaker 2 [EN]
Thank you for providing your vision of not only those summit discussions, which begin today, but the future of the relationship between Canada and the European Union, and reminding us of the deep connections we've had for generations. The Max-Bel School is a teaching and research community that drives policy transformation, by sharing rigorous and independent analysis of society's toughest challenges, creating dynamic learning opportunities, and convening conversations that matter. Canada and the European Union are having a consequential conversation. A conversation about how to survive but also how to thrive in a new political context of geopolitical rivalry, growing protectionism, a digital arms race, an urgent energy transition, and attacks on the values and institutions of democratic governance.

[15:29:22] Speaker 2 [FR]
But this conversation is also reflected in actions, through the development of a roadmap that you have detailed here, on how to turn challenges into opportunities. This is about building shared prosperity and security for our populations and guaranteeing strategic autonomy that enables us to protect and uphold our democratic way of life.

[15:29:58] Speaker 2 [EN]
The agreement and action plan that Canada and the EU are creating is part of a strategic realignment, and the most effective strategies take time. Canadians sense and know this. Our country is making a fundamental pivot. The investments you and our Prime Minister are setting into motion this week will yield some crucial results right away, but many will unfold over time. That is why I believe your speech today and this summit is building and showcasing something else that is desperately needed, in this more unstable international environment. Friendship, amitié. A common refrain over the last few years is that we live in a world of transactional politics. Or deals. One gives something, one gets something. Sometimes under duress. Alliances are considered old-fashioned. For the weak. Today's speech and the relationship Canada and the EU are building demonstrate the precise opposite. Friendship, with those who are like-minded, those who share a commitment to work hard, over the long haul, together, is an incredibly valuable commodity.

[15:31:30] Speaker 2 [FR]
The friendship between Canada and the European Union is a precious asset for this decade and beyond.

[15:31:40] Speaker 2 [EN]
Madam President, as you've noted, there are McGill students and researchers here today who are excited and prepared to capitalize on that continuous friendship-building and the long-term co-investments that the EU and Canada will discuss over the next two days. It is they who will benefit from the opportunities to learn and study in our jurisdictions, and to form research collaborations that will deliver the kind of knowledge and innovation that the world's best universities can deliver. And that both Europe and Canada need for this 21st century. Our universities and yours are committed allies in the fight to preserve and continue building prosperous and dynamic democratic societies. Please know that in Canada's universities, and public policy schools, and especially in McGill and the Max-Bel School, the EU has a willing partner, a friend, to work with you in the coming months and years ahead. We wish you and your Canadian counterparts huge success in the summit, and we thank you all for joining us this morning.

[15:33:03] Speaker 2 [FR]
Thank you.

[15:33:15] Speaker 3 [EN]
Thank you, everyone.