The European Union and Canada are preparing a wide-ranging new partnership covering critical minerals, energy, technology, defence, digital trade and support for Ukraine, with the two sides expected to unveil further details at their summit in Montreal next month.
A draft joint statement seen by POLITICO outlines plans to deepen cooperation across a broad range of strategic sectors as Brussels and Ottawa seek to strengthen their economic and security ties amid growing geopolitical uncertainty and trade tensions.
The EU-Canada summit is scheduled for October 29-30 in Canada. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have already agreed to work towards a more ambitious relationship built around economic security and strategic cooperation.
Critical minerals and energy at the centre
The planned partnership would accelerate investment in critical mineral projects, strengthen supply chains and improve security of supply. The two sides are also considering measures such as stockpiling strategic resources to reduce exposure to market volatility and geopolitical disruptions.
Cooperation would extend to energy, with Brussels and Ottawa looking at closer links across LNG, hydroelectricity, solar, wind and nuclear power.
The EU and Canada already have a strategic partnership on raw materials, established in 2021 to strengthen investment and supply chains and support cooperation in areas including technology, innovation and environmental standards.
Energy cooperation has also intensified in recent months, with both sides discussing diversified supply chains, electricity grids, critical components and Canadian LNG exports to Europe.
Technology and defence cooperation
Technology is another central element of the planned agreement. The two sides are expected to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cybersecurity and digital trade.
Von der Leyen said in her September State of the Union address that the EU and Canada would work towards a technology alliance and closer integration of their defence industries. She also identified the Arctic as a flagship area for joint cooperation.
The EU and Canada are also expected to deepen their cooperation on defence and security, as well as reaffirm their support for Ukraine.
The European Commission said following a September meeting between von der Leyen and Carney that discussions included critical minerals, defence industrial capabilities, AI and computing, energy security, space, financial services, payments and digital trade.
Joint investment in wildfire response
The planned partnership could also produce a more tangible form of cooperation, with Ottawa and Brussels preparing to announce the joint purchase of 50 De Havilland water bombers.
The aircraft are expected to be available for use in Canada and Europe from 2030, strengthening firefighting capacity as both regions face increasing pressure from wildfires.
The initiative would add a practical component to the broader partnership, extending cooperation beyond trade and strategic industries into climate resilience and emergency response.
Building an ‘Alliance for the Future’
The initiative builds on the existing Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA. According to the European Commission, trade in goods between the two sides has increased by more than 75% since the agreement began provisional application.
Von der Leyen has described the next phase of relations as an “Alliance for the Future” aimed at creating a closer economic and security relationship.
She has also proposed opening the door for Canada to become the EU’s first associate member, although the idea remains at an early political and exploratory stage. EU officials have said the October summit will provide an opportunity to discuss how the proposal could be developed further.
The upcoming summit is therefore expected to serve as a key point for turning the broad political ambitions announced in recent weeks into specific projects and commitments.
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