Speaker 1en
That will leverage our strategic capabilities and a variable geometry of like-minded nations to address common issues. The alliance will focus on increasing our collective sovereignty and resilience in areas such as AI, energy, critical minerals, quantum, and beyond. And in parallel, and at the foundation, we are working toward the deepest possible partnership, short of accession, because of our geography, with Canada becoming the European Union's first associate member. In the coming months, we will determine the full substance, scale, and scope of this new form of membership. The Presidents and I will meet periodically to track progress. In March, we will convene the College of the European Commissioners and our federal cabinet here in Canada. To advance this work, and in June, I have accepted President Costa's invitation to attend the European Council meetings where we intend, by that point, to conclude these negotiations and discussions. And I want to spend a few moments—if I may—just talk about what this means for Canadians: the parallel points, of course, hold for Europeans. Well, it means more opportunity, greater affordability, and yes, deeper sovereignty. Canada being an associate member of the European Union creates opportunity that starts with our young people. We'll begin negotiations to expand our participation in Erasmus+. Europe's world-renowned student and skills exchange program. So what does that mean? It means through this program, a Canadian student can pursue their studies, in Barcelona, just as easily as they could at McGill. It means an apprentice welder in Manitoba can bring—and complete—their placement with an employer in Italy, bringing new skills back home.
Speaker 1fr
For our researchers, this would mean gaining access to Jupiter, one of the most powerful supercomputers ever built. For example, Jupiter can perform in a single day a calculation that would take six months. This is the most powerful research supercomputer here in Canada. For our researchers fighting cancer, this means a response as early as tomorrow, rather than next spring. Canada will launch negotiations to participate in the next generation of Horizon Europe programmes. This participation will enable our researchers to pool their resources, collaborate on cutting-edge technologies and take advantage of our world-class research institutes and universities. By pooling our resources, we bring together more talent and pave the way for more discoveries.
Speaker 1en
For our entrepreneurs, the digital trade agreement that you just saw signed combined with seamless payments will make it easier to sell online in Europe. So a business owner in Manitoba, or a lobster harvester in Prince Edward Island, will clear customs faster, getting their products to European markets at tech startup in Vancouver will have a smoother path to customers in Berlin. Bottom line: less red tape, more growth, more opportunity.
Speaker 1fr
Second, affordability. This alliance will enable our financial infrastructure to be directly linked to the European instant payment systems. So, transactions that previously required weeks of delay and redundant administrative formalities will now be carried out without difficulty.
Speaker 1en
We've concluded as well negotiations for a new Canada-EU competition agreement, which will promote competition in sectors from consumer goods to technology, while cracking down on anti-competitive practices online. We'll explore opening our markets to each other's banks, insurers, and fintechs—more competition means better, more affordable services for families. And most fundamentally, all Canadians will benefit from more ready access to a wide range of European goods and services. Thirdly, today is about sovereignty. We're building the industries and infrastructure that underwrite our collective security.
Speaker 1fr
In a show of support, Canada has become the first non-European country to join the SAFE initiative. Right here in Montreal, Canadian workers at Marconi and Galvion are manufacturing military equipment for our allies in Poland and Latvia.
Speaker 1en
The global eye is fabriqué ici,
Speaker 1fr
as part of a partnership between SABE and Bombardier, supporting 3,000 Canadian jobs. And this is only the beginning.
Speaker 1en
Because in the other direction, of course. Europe already buys Canadian water bombers, and as part of this agreement, we are backstopping a significant increase—Canada is a significant increase in water bomber production—the Haviland will soon open a second production line in Wheatland County, Alberta, the company will significantly increase the production of this world-class aircraft to help Canadians and Europeans fight the increasingly devastating firefighters.
Speaker 1fr
Canada is already establishing itself as a supplier of choice for Europe’s energy needs. Thanks to new supply agreements between Silicon Safe and Juniper, low-carbon LNG from British Columbia will power households and industries in Germany.
Speaker 1en
Through our new alliance, through our new partnership, Canada is launching negotiations to join Galileo, Europe's positioning navigation and timing system, and this will strengthen the reliability of GPS services across Canada very much including the Arctic, building our resilience with our most trusted partner. We're deepening cooperation on semiconductors, we're taking the first steps towards new transatlantic and potentially transarctic data cables. The point is, we're leveraging and complementing each other's strengths and building our resistance, our resilience. Creating more choice, ensuring that we are not beholden to others.
Speaker 1fr
Indeed, we are building a transatlantic arch between Canada and the European Union. An arch founded on partnership, balance and mutual respect. And like any great arch, its strength comes from the support that each side gives to the other. The more we use it, the stronger it becomes. The stronger it becomes, the more opportunities it creates, and the more our lives improve.
Speaker 1en
This alliance is built for people, the student in Edmonton who wants to study in Stockholm, the cancer researcher in Saskatoon who needs her answer today, not next spring, the Vancouver startup with new customers in Berlin. The sovereignty for all of our citizens. Sovereignty gives us more choice, the freedom to live our lives as we choose on our own terms, the ambition to build a better, more prosperous world for ourselves, our children, and our children's children. Today we move towards associate membership for Canada, and we launch a new alliance for the future that will deliver now and in the future with like-minded nations. We're just getting started. And with that, it's my pleasure to hand to President Costa.
Speaker 2fr
Dear Marc, dear Ursula, Ministers, Commissioners, good morning, all. First of all, thank you to Prime Minister Marc Carney for your warm welcome here in Montreal. Between Europe and Canada, there is an ocean that brings us closer. The Atlantic has made us share history and our values, and it inspires us in our ambitions. The summit we have just held has demonstrated this in a resounding manner. Let us take a moment to recall how we got here. He is 50 years old. In 1976, Canada and the European Communities signed their first bilateral agreement. Ten years ago, our Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement – the famous CETA – and our Strategic Partnership Agreement marked a new step, strengthening our economic ties and our structured political cooperation. Today, we are jointly choosing a new course. One of a partnership for the future and an ever closer association. To consolidate our common prosperity, to strengthen our security, and to give a dimension new momentum to our political cooperation. This alliance has as its primary objective to deliver concrete results for our citizens, for our businesses, and for our workers. And to do this, we must honour our commitments. Our economic partnership is working. Since the entry into force of CETA, trade between Canada and the European Union has increased by nearly 80%. And we intend to go even further. We are concluding a new agreement on digital trade. We are strengthening our investments in our respective economies. We are making progress towards better mutual recognition of our qualifications. We are deepening our cooperation on competitiveness and economic security. In short, we are making our partnership an engine for growth and employment. We are also making progress in implementing our security and defence partnership.
Through strengthened industrial cooperation, and also through Canada's participation in our SAFE programme, the first non-European country to join it. And we are working hand in hand to support Ukraine, in the face of the war of aggression waged by Russia for almost five years. In this regard, I would like to commend the decision taken by the Prime Minister to contribute through the Ukraine Support Loan. This is a strong signal of our joint commitment alongside Ukraine, for the long term, and for as long as it will be necessary.
Speaker 2en
Our second objective is to look ahead together. We want to build a never closer association. What does this mean in practice for our citizens and companies? It means fewer barriers to trade, more investments, and closer cooperation on critical raw materials. It means deepening collaboration in research and innovation, building on the success of Canada's participation in Horizon Europe. It means better protecting our citizens against health crises and natural disasters. Canada's contribution to tackle wildfires in Europe has demonstrated the strength of our solidarity. It means bringing our people closer together, making it easier to study and work across the Atlantic, including through a new use mobility partnership. Finally, it means deepening our political and institutional ties. And this is our third objective: 50 years ago, our first framework agreement spoke on common heritage, and especially affinity and the shared aspirations that unite us. Today, the time has come to build a broader and deeper political and institutional partnership, one that reflects the major partners, strategic allies, and close friends we have become. That's why we are starting a never closer association. Our relationship is so special that we want to create something new: to go beyond a simple association, everything short of a full EU membership. Our association will be the closest deepest and most unique of its kind. We will do it through closer engagement at the highest political level. And by identifying shared priorities, and coordinating our responses to common challenges. We are already putting this into practice. Dear Marc, I was delighted to welcome you in the Eravan last May as the first non-European leader to attend a European political community summit, and we look forward to welcoming you again in Dublin in two weeks. Thank you. But we can go further. It is great news that you and Ursula agreed to have a college-to-government meeting in the spring. And I will be delighted to host you during the European Council, in June.
Like you, Marc, I believe that our alliance should serve as a beacon for other democracies. At a time where the international rules-based order is under pressure, we share our special responsibility to defend it. And we have seen the power of our cooperation. When the European Union and Canada jointly launch the Partners for Multilateralism Initiative during the last United Nations General Assembly, many other United Nations quickly joined our call for effective multilateralism and collective action to uphold international law and tackle global challenges. We are choosing to navigate a new course across the Atlantic together, with a clear direction and a shared determination to shape the future. Today, we embark on a new chapter. With ambition, with confidence, and with the wind in our sails. Thank you very much.
Speaker 1en
Thank you very much. Very good. Well done.
Speaker 3en
Thank you very much, and good afternoon, dear Marc, dear Antonio.
Speaker 3fr
And hello. Since we are in Quebec, and it is only natural that we should meet here in Montreal to talk about the future of our relationship. Montreal is a city built on the meeting of peoples. It is a city that symbolises what unites Canada and Europe, for many long centuries.
Speaker 3en
And without a doubt, Canada is the most European country outside Europe. Because what brings us together goes far beyond geography. We see the world through the same eyes. What matters nowadays is not where a country is on the map, but what it is ready to build with us, and what it stands for. In a world of fierce geopolitical headwinds. These headwinds won't stop blowing. This change is permanent, and now it is time to act with confidence and with vision, to build a new future. And this is what makes today's summit so unique and, as you said, so historic. Today we haven't looked backwards. But only forward. Setting out a vision for the future. We both want to bring our relationship to the highest level possible, so at the summit, one of the main points we discussed was the idea of Canada becoming an associate member to the European Union. And our idea is simple: it is an association with out-accession, because the treaties are clear and don't allow it, a country outside Europe cannot join the European Union, but we can replace the term accession with a common ambition and vision. We can build a partnership that comes closer to membership than anything we've done before. The three clear objectives: more opportunities, for our people. More prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic. And greater security for all of us. How do we get there? We're looking at three pillars: policies, programs, and governance. First on policies: we want to shape more of our policies together. With much closer alignment, from climate and energy to AI innovation and security, you just name it. We want to consult each other at all stages, so from inception to implementation. The second pillar is about programs. We want Canada to participate more fully in European Union programs. You are already in SAFE, our defense industry program. Now we want to expand our cooperation on the Horizon Europe, for example, and bring Canada fully into Erasmus+, because we want our people to study, to work, and to research and innovate together.
Because these are the strongest bridges across the Atlantic, and built through millions, of individual stories.
Speaker 1en
Yeah.
Speaker 3en
And the third pillar is governance. We want to bring our institutions much closer together, and the fact that 10 members of my college college are here, joined me today, this already speaks volumes about our ambition. And indeed, we will organize a full government-to-college meeting in spring, and this cooperation could also entail, for example, parliament-to-parliament or court-to-court, or yesterday when we saw the business sector, there was the suggestion to do business-to-business. Yes, the concept of an associate member is uncharted territory. But we have the ambition, trust, and creativity to shape it together. And to be crystal clear, this is a partnership, not against anyone else, but for our common strength. Bilaterally, this is the highest form of partnership. But we have also looked beyond our bilateral relationship to the world as a whole. Indeed, you said, Marc, the new international order will also be built from Europe.
Speaker 1en
Mm.
Speaker 3en
With Canada as part of it. And in a world of growing rivalries, sovereignty is no longer the freedom to act alone, but it is the capacity to act together. And this is why we're building the Alliance for the Future. And we start with Canada, the European Union, and Canada kind of the nucleus. Together we want to create a common space for growth, prosperity, resilience, and economic security, and today we took the first concrete steps towards it. First, we concluded negotiations on our digital trade agreement, we just witnessed it. Think of this digital trade agreement as the digital arm of CETA. Second, we're finalizing an agreement between Canada and the European Investment Bank. It is about investment in critical raw materials. Third, we are opening Europe's supercomputing infrastructure to Canada. Giving our researchers and businesses more opportunities to innovate together. We're strengthening our joint ambitions to lead on innovative and trustworthy artificial intelligence. And fourth, on space, we're deepening cooperation on secure satellite connectivity, we're exploring Canada's participation in our Galileo IRIS Square or GovSatCom programs, and more to come. And finally, we're also joining forces in the information space. With a new framework for democratic resilience, to better protect the integrity of our democratic processes. Dear Marc, let me finish with a word on Ukraine. Canada has always been at the side of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, and we thank you for that. Today we agreed on Canada's participation in our $90 billion Ukraine support loan, this sends a powerful message to Ukraine. Together we're stepping up our support for Ukraine.
Speaker 3fr
And I would like to conclude by thanking the Prime Minister and his government for their exceptional hospitality. And I also want to thank you for the quality of our discussion, I think I am speaking on behalf of my friend Antonio when I say thank you for such a successful summit. Thank you very much.
Speaker 1fr
Thank you very much. Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2fr
For the European Union and then a question for Canada, we will alternate.
Speaker 2en
Please identify yourself and who the question is for.
Speaker 2fr
Please, you register and to whom the question is addressed.
Speaker 2en
Première question, first question, EU.
Speaker 1en
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1fr
Thank you very much, Alex.
Speaker 1en
Can I have your TVP World? Prime Minister Carney, we've just heard about you joining the EU support loan for Ukraine.
Speaker 2en
Yes.
Speaker 1en
Can you give us a bit more information? How much? When? Would be very interesting to us. And a question for President von der Leyen, if I may. We've seen strong pushback from Germany on your decision to call this an associate membership for Canada, and with elections across the European Union next year, seeming likely to return even less sympathetic governments. Are you not worried that in about a year's time all of this could be much more difficult, if not scrambled altogether, in a very short one for both of you, if I may, at the outset? Would President Trump be welcome in the Alliance for the Future? Thank you. Okay.
Speaker 4en
On your first question, with respect to the Ukraine loan, about $500, the short answer is about $500 million euros, actually it is $500 million euros, will be our initial participation. This is a very important and effective mechanism, and I actually commend the innovation of President von der Leyen, the Commission, and President Costa in creating this. Using frozen assets in order to provide much-needed financing for Ukraine. Of course, what comes behind that is tangible support for defense and reconstruction. In Ukraine. We had a broader discussion of the broader financing needs and security needs of Ukraine as we often do, as we meet. There's a number of other avenues with partners, and I'll make the point as by way of illustration, if I could. Forgive me if it's not a perfect analogy, but it's illustrative. As you're aware, we are members of the coalition of the willing, as are many other countries. That is an example of an application of what would be an alliance for the future. In that there's a specific objective, which is to support the people of Ukraine, support the principles of territorial integrity, freedom, democracy, that is focused on, as you know, security guarantees. It's possibility through this mechanism, this ambition, this nucleus, to broaden that level of support using those mechanisms. And the only, what I would say, I'm going to pick up and then I will hand, reinforce something that President von der Leyen said, which is this is a positive association. This is a positive alliance. This is four things. It's about creating opportunity building prosperity, addressing sustainability, and reinforcing sovereignty. Why? So we can live our lives as we choose. Our people can live their lives as they choose and have the full freedoms that people enjoy in the European Union and enjoy in Canada. So it's not against anything, it's for. And those who choose to be for solutions will be pleased with the result.
Speaker 2en
And I can pick up here indeed.
Speaker 1en
Thank you.
Speaker 2en
There's a broad support and shared ambition among the member states, but you also experience it in the European Parliament, a vast majority that is for the fact to bring Canada closer to the European Union. We would have loved to discuss about membership, full-fledged membership, but it is impossible. We know that. And therefore we are exploring the closest ever association to the membership in the European Union, and this is the start of an intense work that we see here. We have the vision, we have an idea, we have to develop the framework, we have to fill it with life now, but on one thing I'm absolutely sure, having spoken a lot about this idea in the last weeks, that is the broad support to have Canada much, much closer to the European Union.
Speaker 4en
Forgive me if,
Speaker 4fr
small in French, it is necessary, just as regards whether I can, as regards our relations, Canada-European. So, it is the closest possible collaboration and partnership, without being a member of the European Union, because that is impossible due to geography. But at the end of the day, in every circumstance, it is collaboration and a partnership for things, for solutions, for viability, for markets, for individuals, businesses, researchers – all of that. And with this new Alliance for the Future, it is about finding solutions on a large scale, for example to defend Ukraine, for the reconstruction of Ukraine, and for the fight against climate change and financing the fight against climate change.
Speaker 2fr
Perhaps I am also trying to say this in French, if that is possible.
Speaker 4fr
Yes.
Speaker 2fr
There is enormous support among Member States and European citizens to bring the European Union and Canada closer together. And we are starting the work now, we have an ambition, we have a vision, now we need to define it. All the small details that are necessary to move this work forward, but the most important message is that we have a large majority of citizens who want closer ties with Canada.
Speaker 4fr
Very well.
Speaker 2en
Prochaine question, next question, Christian Noël.
Madame la PrésidenteMonsieur le Présidentfr
Madam President, Mr President, Prime Minister, good morning. Christian Noël, Radio-Canada. Yes. Madam President, Mr President, Prime Minister, good morning. Christian Noël from Radio-Canada. Yes. This is a two-part question. First, for people at home, becoming an associate member, what does it really change for Mr and Mrs Average? for ordinary people at home, what does becoming an associate member actually change for Mr and Mrs Smith in their daily lives and in terms of the cost of living? And what about the cost of living? And for Canadian businesses that fear getting bogged down in a European bureaucratic quagmire? In which sector, Mr Carney, would you like to see compromises at European Union level or regulatory compromises? And for Madam President, Mr President, are you able to sell these compromises to your members, to your Member States, without irritating them?
Speaker 4fr
So, first of all, with regard to opportunities for Mr and Mrs Everyone, we start with viability. More choice, lower costs, goods, services European goods and services here in Canada. A more competitive financial sector, more competition in the financial sector. This is due to competition from European institutions and payment methods here in Canada. For everyone, with children, great opportunities for children to study in Europe, to have European students here in Canada. To have opportunities to work there, to travel there easily and quickly. Opportunities for cultural exchanges as well. There are several of these. There are several. But at the end of the day, it is not necessary to go to Europe to experience the benefits of this partnership. As regards your second question, what is important, with this approach, then, the world is dynamic, the economy is dynamic. And we are both in the process of developing new approaches, for example, for AI. We can co-develop them now. It is more efficient. Yes, that would at least be more effective, in my view, more impactful and better developed, in fact. This is the first thing. Secondly, there is a process in Europe and a process in Canada to duplicate the regulations. So, this process or this partnership reinforces these efforts. So, there are several, and we will focus on the examples over the coming months. Thank you. Well, the 27 Member States have approved our joint declaration. And our joint declaration is very clear. We want to build an ever closer association. What does that mean? Well, Madam President, Mr Prime Minister and I have already tried to explain. The three dimensions, first of all the policy dimension. Share and bring our policy closer. That is what we have done. During this summit, that is what we will continue to do.
On global challenges, climate change, peace, development, but also on the issues facing everyone today. Artificial intelligence, the development of the digital dimension. And also a third dimension, which is governance. And to that end, we gave a very clear example. Not only today at this summit, but when the President of the Commission and the Prime Minister minister of Canada take the decision to hold a joint meeting of the College of Commissioners and the Canadian Council of Ministers, it is difficult, it is hard to imagine a closer association than this. When the Prime Minister of Canada comes to participate in a European Council meeting, with all the Heads of State and Government, it is hard to imagine a closer association than Mr Carney’s participation in the European Council. So we have the political dimension, we have the cross-cutting inclusion in the programmes, and we have this dimension of political and institutional cooperation at the highest level.
Speaker 2en
Yes, and perhaps I can add something in English, because you asked about what is the advantage for the people, rightly so. It's jobs, first and foremost, good jobs, we just had yesterday the business meeting with companies that are working investing and creating good jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. And what they were asking for, small and medium companies also, is scale. If we enlarge our respective single market, there is more possibility for scale for these companies. No barriers. No restrictions. Very important to create good jobs and to scale for companies. Then resilient supply chains. The more we are together, the more we are able to really have resilient supply chains as the business sector needs it. And we will look into the different supply chains requirements, to do our best to have them stable, to have them secure, and to have them resilient. Other topic of supercomputers, the European Union has 12 supercomputers, they are open now to the brilliant researchers and startups from Canada, to train their models on European supercomputers. It's for them opportunities, economic opportunities, and that creates jobs. So a lot of our work is also very practical to make sure that with this work together, we have good jobs on both sides of the Atlantic that are created.
Speaker 1en
Next question. Prochaine question.
Jorge ValeroBloombergen
Good afternoon, Jorge Valero with Bloomberg. Question first for President von der Leyen and President Costa. As you are launching today this network of trusted partners with, starting with Canada, does that mean that Canada will benefit from the preferential treatment under the European Made in Europe rules that we see, for example, in the industrial selector act and other proposals? Will you be in favor of that? For Prime Minister Carney, if you don't get, if Canada doesn't get this preferential treatment under the Made in Europe rules, does that mean that, for example, Canada would reconsider the closer cooperation on mining and energy? Thank you.
Speaker 1en
Let's start.
Speaker 4en
The street.
Speaker 2en
So, on the question you were asking, the industrial accelerator act, has been proposed by the Commission, and it has been proposed in a way that we say with this includes all the countries with who we have a free trade agreement. We have CETA, the famous CETA, so automatically Canada would be in. Of course, now the proposal is the co-legislature process and has to go through that, but our proposal is very clear including Canada.
Speaker 4en
I think that answers the question. I think I'll just add the following, which is that in the run-up to this meeting, we had a series of trade issues that had been bubbling along for, as trade issues sometimes do, 18 months, 24 months, in some cases 36 months, and the teams worked through them and addressed them. This is part of the benefit of this level of cooperation. You find issues, you address them, whether it's on procurement, other elements of industrial policy. So that. Nature will only be reinforced by what we're announcing today. Thank you.
Speaker 1fr
Last question.
Christopher NardiNational Posten
Good afternoon, Christopher Nardi from the National Post. So, Mr. Carney, you've spoken at length about the opportunities that are linked to deeper ties with the EU. What's the cost of admission to associate membership? How much are you willing to pay, and into which programs? And then to President von der Leyen, will the EU exempt Canadian products from the upcoming carbon border tariff, the CBAM, and the anti-deforestation law? And Mr. Carney, are you pushing for those exemptions for Canadian products?
Speaker 5en
Well, let me pick up the second part of your question, even though it wasn't directed at me, is at me. Those are two of the issues that we work together to find common solutions on. So that's an example then there. We don't view this as.
Speaker 4en
Do you? Sorry, did you?
Speaker 5en
Yes. And with respect to, we don't view this as pain for something. We view this as coming together and, as I said before, this is a positive association. And then with that, creating a nucleus for the broader positive alliance for the future, which creates opportunity and pools resources for bigger returns. Madam President just mentioned Horizon, mentioned as well the supercomputers. They're enormous returns that come for Canadian researchers, Canadian businesses, Canadians, and Europeans, of course, with that. That comes from those research programs. If you look at the track record of Horizon, FP would it be FP9, the predecessor programs of that, you see numerous examples of that. So this is about coming together, one plus one, equals more than two. It's called a synergy, and that's the essence. And we have the track record, and it's that plus the values give us the confidence that moving together is good for Canadians. Now, even better for Canadians in the future.
Speaker 2en
Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 1en
I couldn't answer the question better than Prime Minister Carney has just done on the trade dividends.
Speaker 4en
Yeah.
Speaker 3fr
In French, please.
Speaker 4fr
In French, in what aspect?
Speaker 3fr
On the cost of tariffs and also the national cost.
Speaker 4fr
The cost of tariffs, you raised some trade issues, and the. We have addressed these during the last few weeks. These are examples of the spirit of the partnership, and the advantage of having a closer association between the two countries, full stop. As for yields, for example, or costs, of being an associate member or having a closer association, no, that is not how it works. These are advantages, synergies, spillover effects. We are creating more. So one plus one is more than two. That is the track record, and that will be the future.
Speaker 1en
Merci. Thank you very much. Let's go to the next press conference.