The EU and Canada enjoy a vibrant strategic partnership built on effective multilateralism, a progressive international policy agenda and inclusive trade. New political opportunities under the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) and new trade opportunities under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) have brought Canada and the EU closer than ever, a close friendship and a reliable partnership further enhanced by the current geopolitical environment.

Strengthening strategic cooperation

The framework for the EU-Canada relationship is set out in the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), an update of the 1976 Framework Agreement for Commercial and Economic Cooperation. SPA reflects recent global developments and provides a platform for advancing Canada-EU foreign policy goals, as well as joint international action. It reinforces cooperation in strategic areas such as:

• International peace and security
• Human rights
• Environmental protection
• Research
• Innovation
• Energy security
• Education

Working together on issues of shared interest and responsibility, the EU and Canada hold regular consultations, including summits between the Canadian prime minister and the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, ministerial consultations and dialogues of the political directors. What’s more, there are ongoing specific consultations on regional and global issues ranging from energy, environment, climate change and the digital transition to non-proliferation, defence and security matters.

Canada also participates in the EU’s civilian missions and military operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). In addition, Canada and the EU regularly join forces on electoral observation missions.

The EU and Canada have a long-standing dialogue on digital matters. President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Trudeau upgraded this dialogue by launching the EU-Canada Digital Partnership at the EU-Canada Summit in November 2023. The EU-Canada Summit of June 2025, reaffirmed the bilateral commitment to pursue mutually beneficial collaboration on digital and tech policy issues through the Digital Partnership while bolstering the bilateral digital trade relationship. 

The Partnership goes beyond information exchange on respective initiatives related to digital. It establishes a collaboration vehicle to produce concrete joint deliverables in areas such as artificial intelligence, secure international connectivity, cyber security, online platforms, digital infrastructure and digital skills. The deliverables include research cooperation in cutting-edge technologies powered significantly by Canada’s association to Horizon Europe, regulatory cooperation as well as coordination on digital matters in multilateral organisations and standardisation fora. 

The Partnership establishes a Digital Partnership Council - an annual ministerial meeting - which gives the political steer and sets the priorities for implementation. 

The EU and Canada share the objective of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. To this end, the EU and Canada entered into a Green Alliance in November 2023 and are calling on countries to increase their targets of GHG emission reductions. The EU and Canada are already working in sync to achieve these shared objectives through the regular bilateral High-Level Dialogues on Climate, Energy, Environment, and Oceans. In multilateral fora, EU and Canada are also working in tandem – for instance through joint multilateral initiatives, such as the Ministerial on Climate Action (MoCA), the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and the International Conference on Chemicals Management.

The development of clean technologies, sustainable energy sources, including hydrogen or wind and wave power, and the reduction of pollution via carbon capture or recycling are at the core of our joint efforts.

Ensuring the security of supply chains for the minerals and metals critical to the transition to a climate-neutral and digital economy is a priority. This is why Canada and the EU established a Strategic Partnership on Raw Materials (Strategic Partnership) within the mandate of the CETA, with a focus on the integration, resilience and competitiveness of Canada-EU raw material value chains; science, technology and innovation collaboration; and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria and standards.

EU countries Finland, Sweden and Denmark (via Greenland) all have Arctic territories and are members of the Arctic Council, alongside Canada. The EU itself enjoys the rights of an active observer at the Arctic Council. This enables the EU to better understand and address concerns of Arctic partners while developing the EU Arctic Policy in close cooperation between the European Commission, the European Parliament and EU Member States.

As a leading forum for Arctic cooperation, an important element of the Council is the inclusion of the Arctic Indigenous peoples with special ‘Permanent Participants’ status.

The EU and Canada are already cooperating on Arctic issues, such as marine science research under the Horizon Europe programme.

Another area for cooperation concerns the conservation of fish stocks. Canada and the EU agree in principle on the need for a science-based, precautionary approach, in line with national and international law, notably the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Delegation of the European Union to Canada, in close cooperation with the diplomatic missions and cultural institutes of EU Member States, promotes pan-European culture year-round through a number of well-established public diplomacy activities, and special events, such as film festivals across Canada, an annual Christmas Concert, cultural fairs, art exhibits, student competitions, journalism workshops, study tours, climate diplomacy initiatives, Pride Weeks in various Canadian cities, among other activities. These events have successfully contributed to enhancing the knowledge and understanding of the EU and its relations with Canada.

Europe Day

Each 9 May Europe Day celebrates peace and unity in Europe as it marks the anniversary of the historic 1950 Schuman Declaration, which set out a vision for a new form of European political cooperation that would make war between European nations unthinkable. Europe Day is celebrated in Ottawa and in other major Canadian cities.

European Union Film Festival

Every year, the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) — our longest-running cultural activity — gives Canadians from coast to coast, including Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, a chance to experience Europe's diverse and rich film heritage.

Whether highlighting historic events, political subjects or personal dilemmas, European films are intellectually stimulating and culturally engaging.

In 2025, EUFF in Canada marks its 40th annual edition in Ottawa, 28th in Vancouver, 21st in Toronto and sixth online Canada-wide. 

European Union Cultural Fair

Once a year, in the summer, the EU Delegation to Canada organizes the EU Cultural Fair in collaboration with the diplomatic missions in the Ottawa Capital Region. This celebration offers Canadians a unique opportunity to experience the rich and diverse cultures of the European Union for a day.