Canada–European Union relations

Canadian-EU relations

Canada	European Union

Relations between Canada and the European Union (EU) and its forerunners date back to the 1950s. While primarily an economic relationship, there are matters of political cooperation as well.

History

Main article: Canada – Europe relations

Canada's relationship with Europe is an outgrowth of the historic connections spawned by colonialism and mass European immigration to Canada. Canada was first settled by the French, and after 1763 was formally added to the British Empire after its capture in the Seven Years' War.

The United Kingdom has extremely close relations with Canada, due to its British colonial past and both being realms of the Commonwealth. The UK is a member of the EU.

Historically, Canada's relations with the UK and USA were usually given priority over relations with continental Europe. Nevertheless, Canada had existing ties with European countries through the Western alliance during the Second World War, the United Nations, and NATO before the creation of the European Economic Community.

Agreements

The history of Canada's relations with the EU is best documented in a series of economic agreements:

In 1976 the European Economic Community (EEC) and Canada signed a Framework Agreement on Economic Co-operation, the first formal agreement of its kind between the EEC and an industrialized third country.

Also in 1976 the Delegation of the European Commission to Canada opened in Ottawa.

In 1990 European and Canadian leaders adopted a Declaration on Transatlantic Relations, extending the scope of their contacts and establishing regular meetings at Summit and Ministerial level.

In 1996, a new Political Declaration on EU-Canada Relations was made at the Ottawa Summit, adopting a joint Action Plan identifying additional specific areas for co-operation.

Areas of conflict

There is an ongoing tension over the EU ban on the import of seal products. This was thought to be motivating factor in Canada's efforts to block the EU's efforts to join the Arctic Council.

Canada-EU Free Trade Agreement Proposal

Main article: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Since as early as June 2007, the Government of Canada led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper have been pressuring the EU and its member countries to negotiate a Canada-EU free trade agreement Former French prime minister Edouard Balladur has supported the idea, while former Canadian trade negotiator Michael Hart called the idea "silly." The Canada Europe Roundtable for Business (CERT), founded in 1999, has been a principal advocate for a free trade agreement and is supported by more than 100 Canadian and European chief executives. CERT is co-Chaired by former Canadian trade minister Roy MacLaren, and Bill Emmott, former Editor of The Economist magazine

In June 2009, EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton and Canadian Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day released a joint statement regarding the start of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Minister Day stated "This first meeting represents a solid step toward a historic economic agreement between Canada and Europe. These negotiations are a priority for our government."

But Canada and EU remain at odds over an EU ban on importing seal products, and Canada's recent decision to require that Czech citizens obtain a visa to travel to Canada.

See also

• Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
• Delegation of the European Commission to Canada (Ottawa)
• Foreign relations of Canada
• Foreign relations of the European Union
• List of Canadian ambassadors to the European Union
• Mission of Canada to the European Union (Brussels)
• Turbot War

External links

• Delegation of the European Commission to Canada
• The EU's relations with Canada
• Mission of Canada to the European Union
• Canada - EU: Negotiations Towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
• Resource for information on EU-Canada Relations from University of British Columbia