Remarks by President Charles Michel following the EU-Canada Leaders' meeting via videoconference
First of all, I would like to give voice to the emotion of the European Union following the latest terrorist attacks perpetrated in France.
I would like to express our solidarity with France and with the French people. I would like to express our full support for the victims and for their families. And I would like to stress once again that such attacks are attacks against democracy and against freedom and that, now more than ever, we must stand together to defend the values that bring us together - democracy, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.
During this videoconference with the President of the Commission and the Prime Minister of Canada, we had the opportunity to review the partnership, the close, solid and robust alliance, that links the European Union and Canada.
Beyond that partnership, that alliance, there are solid ties of friendship between the European Union and Canada because, at a fundamental level, we are aware that we share common values, the central values that underpin our vision of the world: the rule of law, human rights, the conviction that we need a world based on rules, support for multilateralism, and the belief that global challenges call for comprehensive and global responses.
We had the opportunity once again to address in detail and in depth the different issues on which we intend to continue to work closely to deepen our ties, in order to ensure that this robust relationship between Canada and the European Union can provide useful added value in facilitating a fairer, better and more equitable world.
Today we discussed three key areas of EU-Canada cooperation: Covid-19 and Economic Recovery, EU-Canada Relations and SOME international issues.
Today the world is at a crucial juncture - we see the resurgence of Covid-19 everywhere. So it’s natural that Covid-19 - and our economic recovery - were at the heart of our agenda. We are determined to fight the pandemic together - as a global community, in line with our values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Our goal is two-fold: first, protect the health of our citizens and second, ensure an innovative, sustainable, and inclusive economic recovery. And there is one way to do this - through solidarity, cooperation and multilateralism. The work of the G7, the G20, and the United Nations are crucial to these efforts.
The EU and Canada also cooperate on Covid vaccines, treatments, and tests to make sure all people have fair and affordable access.
And we discussed strengthening the WHO, global pandemic preparedness and response, and the necessary reforms.
We welcome G20 efforts on debt relief to support the most affected low-income countries, especially in Africa.
This year we celebrate the third anniversary of the provisional entry into force EU-Canada Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). CETA has been good for both the EU and Canada. Bilateral trade has increased by 24% for goods and 25% for services. And we hope for the swift ratification of CETA by ALL our Member States.
Climate change may not grab the headlines right now. But it’s no less urgent today than yesterday. We stressed the urgency to step up global action to tackle climate change. The EU and Canada share the common goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. And our economic recovery offers a unique opportunity for a “Green Reset” of our economies.
We also highlighted our close collaboration on our digital transformation. We work together to ensure that Artificial Intelligence and other digital technologies play a role in our Covid-19 recovery.
We also discussed a range of foreign policy and security issues - including China, Belarus, Nagorno-Karabakh, Eastern Mediterranean, Sahel and Venezuela. The EU and Canada see eye to eye on these issues.
Specifically on China, we have serious concerns about the human rights situation in China, including the arbitrary detention of EU and Canadian citizens.
Strong transatlantic relations are critical to address today’s geopolitical challenges and uphold the rules-based global order that we both cherish.
We also agreed to cooperate in protecting our democratic systems against cyber-attacks and disinformation.
Our EU-Canada relationship is strong, anchored in the values of democracy, human rights, and multilateralism. And we look forward to expanding our cooperation at our next Summit, when conditions allow. Thank you.