“Canada is perhaps the most European country outside Europe. At a moment of global rupture, marked by Russian aggression and increasingly erratic rhetoric from Washington, it is time for this close alignment to be matched by the depth of our Euro-Canadian alliance.” This is how rapporteur Tobias Cremer (S&D/DEU) framed the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee’s call for an upgrade in relations between Brussels and Ottawa.
In a recommendation adopted on Wednesday by 47 votes to 13, with five abstentions, the committee urged EU institutions to deepen the strategic partnership with Canada and swiftly implement the commitments made at the EU–Canada Summit of 23 June 2025. Lawmakers argue that shared democratic values and geopolitical interests must now translate into tangible cooperation across security, defence and trade.
Security and defence at the core
At the heart of the proposal is a call for intensified coordination in response to mounting global pressures. MEPs point to Russia’s war against Ukraine, hybrid attacks, foreign interference and terrorism as immediate concerns, alongside longer-term challenges such as China’s assertiveness, economic coercion, cybersecurity risks, artificial intelligence governance and climate-related instability.
The committee stresses the need to fully implement the EU–Canada security and defence partnership in complement to NATO efforts, including through relevant EU defence initiatives aimed at strengthening readiness.
Support for Ukraine remains a defining pillar of the relationship. The text calls for reinforced backing of Kyiv’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including coordinated sanctions and diplomatic action through the G7 and other multilateral platforms. Closer EU–Canada alignment in the Western Balkans, the Indo-Pacific and efforts toward a just and lasting peace in the Middle East are also highlighted.
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Reinforcing multilateralism and economic ties
Beyond defence, the committee positions the partnership as a pillar of the rules-based international order. It emphasises joint efforts to uphold institutions such as the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, the World Trade Organization, NATO and the G7 and G20.
The Arctic has emerged as a major strategic priority. MEPs call for deeper cooperation to manage rising geopolitical competition and militarisation in the region, while underlining the importance of protecting Greenland’s autonomy amid increased global attention.
On the economic front, lawmakers advocate accelerating ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in the remaining member states, with a view to consolidating its benefits ahead of the tenth anniversary of its provisional application in 2027. The recommendation also calls for expanded energy cooperation, including through a strengthened EU–Canada high-level energy dialogue.
The proposal will now move to the European Parliament’s plenary for consideration and a final vote.
