On June 23, 2025, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced an historic step forward for Canada’s relationship with the European Union (EU). Together with President Costa and President von der Leyen, the Prime Minister announced they will forge a new, ambitious, and comprehensive partnership. The New EU-Canada Strategic Partnership of the Future is rooted in shared values and the rules-based international system, and strategically aimed to pursue common interests.
Canada and the EU will soon launch comprehensive negotiations across multiple areas to strengthen co-operation and connection – including trade and economic security, the digital transition, and the fight against climate change and environmental degradation. This will create more economic opportunities and long-term prosperity for workers, businesses, and citizens in both Canada and the EU.
As part of this new, strengthened relationship, Canada and the EU today signed the Security and Defence Partnership, which provides a framework for dialogue and co-operation in security and defence priorities. For Canada and the EU Member States who are NATO Allies, this will also help deliver on capability targets more quickly and economically. This new partnership is the intentional first step toward Canada’s participation in Security Action for Europe (SAFE), an instrument of the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030. Canada’s participation in this initiative will create significant defence procurement and industrial opportunities for Canada.