Report - A10-0035/2026Report
A10-0035/2026
European Parliament

REPORT on a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning an enhanced EU-Canada cooperation in the light of the current geopolitical context, including the threats to Canada’s economic stability and sovereignty

27.2.2026 - (2025/2168(INI))

Committee on Foreign Affairs
Rapporteur: Tobias Cremer


Procedure : 2025/2168(INI)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
A10-0035/2026
Texts tabled :
A10-0035/2026
Debates :
Votes :
Texts adopted :

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RECOMMENDATION

to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning an enhanced EU-Canada cooperation in the light of the current geopolitical context, including the threats to Canada’s economic stability and sovereignty

(2025/2168(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part[1], signed on 30 October 2016 and provisionally applied since 1 April 2017,

– having regard to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada, of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part[2], which entered into force provisionally on 21 September 2017,

– having regard to the EU-Canada Strategic Partnership on Raw Materials, launched on 21 June 2021,

– having regard to the EU-Canada Digital Partnership and the EU-Canada Green Alliance, launched on 23 November 2023,

– having regard to the joint statement by the leaders of the European Union and Canada entitled ‘Enduring Partnership, Ambitious Agenda’, adopted at the EU-Canada Summit held in Brussels on 23 June 2025,

– having regard to the Security and Defence Partnership between the European Union and Canada, signed at the EU-Canada Summit held on 23 June 2025,

– having regard to the Hague NATO Summit Declaration of 25 June 2025,

– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 26 June 2025,

– having regard to the Canada-led G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance, announced on 17 June 2025 and launched on 31 October 2025,

– having regard to the joint declaration of 12 November 2025 following the fourth Canada-EU joint ministerial committee meeting,

– having regard to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted on 13 September 2007,

– having regard to the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity,

– having regard to its recommendation of 26 November 2025 to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the EU’s diplomatic strategy and geopolitical cooperation in the Arctic,

– having regard to Rule 121 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on International Trade,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A10-0035/2026),

A. whereas in a geopolitical context of increased great power rivalry, political volatility, fragmented global supply chains, rising protectionism, the weaponisation of trade, vulnerabilities in economic security and accelerating climate change, the EU must deepen cooperation with like-minded partners such as Canada; whereas the EU and Canada have a shared and increased interest in deepening their cooperation, strengthening their economic ties and upholding the rules-based international order, and share common positions on virtually all regions of the world; whereas the EU has consistently remained a reliable and loyal ally of Canada;

B. whereas the EU and Canada are strategic partners united in their conviction that democracy, the rule of law, human rights and multilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of security and trade, are beneficial to Canadian and European societies and the international community and should therefore be defended by global alliances of like-minded partners;

C. whereas the EU-Canada partnership has become central to defending and upholding multilateralism and democracy worldwide in times when these long-standing principles and achievements are under constant and increasing threat; whereas Canada and all EU Member States are party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;

D. whereas there has been long-standing cooperation between the EU and Canada in the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as a commitment to working together to stabilise and strengthen the rules-based international trading system, the existence of which is currently under threat, to modernise the WTO and to revitalise its dispute settlement system, including through the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement;

E. whereas effective EU-Canada cooperation based on joint leadership and responsibility is critical in tackling global challenges, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, Russia’s hybrid warfare against democratic societies, geopolitical competition in the Arctic, China’s increasingly assertive actions and economic coercion outside of the internationally established frameworks, increased volatility in US foreign policy, climate change and the situation in the Middle East;

F. whereas cooperation between the EU and Canada within existing frameworks is essential to preserve and enhance prosperity for both parties; whereas examples of this essential cooperation include trade and economic cooperation, and joint ambitions to address challenges such as the green and digital transitions, artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, security, including military cooperation, counterterrorism and combating organised crime, and infrastructure, energy, health and food security;

G. whereas on 1 December 2025, Canada and the EU successfully concluded negotiations on an agreement for Canada’s participation in the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, thereby building on their Security and Defence Partnership signed at the EU-Canada Summit in June 2025;

H. whereas the impact of CETA is assessed as positive, significantly increasing trade in goods and services between the EU and Canada by around 63 % and EUR 75.6 billion, abolishing 99 % of tariff lines and having a positive direct effect on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in both the EU and Canada, with an increasing number of SMEs engaging in bilateral trade; whereas initial fears of Canadian beef flooding the European market have not been realised, with only around 2 % of the annual quota for beef established under CETA being used in 2023;

I. whereas challenges in CETA enforcement persist in some areas, such as regulatory cooperation, the chapter on trade and sustainable development, and transparent access to complete procurement data[3];

J. whereas the e-commerce, trade and sustainable development chapters and the provision on the protection of investors in CETA are outdated and do not reflect current Commission policy; whereas the Government of Canada has put forward proposals to enhance the enforceability of CETA’s trade and sustainable development provisions;

K. whereas CETA provides for a framework for the mutual recognition of qualifications in regulated professions such as architecture, accountancy and engineering;

L. whereas indigenous peoples in Canada hold irreplaceable traditional knowledge, act as primary stewards of ecosystems and are already disproportionately affected by climate change, socio-economic marginalisation and environmental degradation; whereas both Canada and the EU have endorsed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including a commitment to consult and cooperate in good faith with indigenous peoples to obtain their free, prior and informed consent before approving any project affecting their lands, territories or resources;

M. whereas Canada, through its commitment to providing long-term support to Ukraine and its strong leadership during its G7 Presidency, has proven to be a strategic partner to the EU and a reliable NATO ally;

N. whereas the full potential of the existing instruments of EU-Canada cooperation must be exploited and the EU-Canada partnership strongly enhanced so that together the EU and Canada can stand firm against Russia’s war against Ukraine, the revisionism of geopolitical actors, the escalation of hybrid warfare campaigns against democratic societies, climate change, and challenges to the global trade order;

1. Recommends that the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy:

The EU-Canada partnership: institutional framework

(a) seize this moment of rupture in the international order and shared challenges as an opportunity to fully harness the potential of the EU-Canada Strategic Partnership and elevate the relationship to a new level in the pursuit of common interests and values in a rapidly changing global environment;

(b) maximise their efforts to swiftly implement the conclusions of the EU-Canada Summit of 23 June 2025, by taking concrete steps to achieve tangible progress in the areas outlined in the joint statement and the Security and Defence Partnership, including by building on Canada’s participation, as the only non-European country, in the SAFE programme in order to establish the closest possible defence cooperation in a world of rising great power rivalry;

(c) intensify multilevel dialogues, including summits and joint initiatives such as trade and investment missions, as well as long-term cooperation formats at working level by assigning dedicated project officers for different work streams, in order to deepen cooperation and find paths to strategic engagement between Canada and the EU in jointly addressing global challenges such as AI, energy, climate change and cybersecurity, especially at a moment where the rules-based international order is under increasing pressure; ensure that these dialogues involve civil society and expert stakeholders where appropriate;

(d) support a stronger role for parliamentary dialogue in the strategic partnership and ensure regular bilateral parliamentary exchanges and cooperation on key issues;

(e) note that Canada enjoys legal observer status in the Council of Europe; call for an increase in cooperation at parliamentary level and for the Council of Europe to regularly invite Canada to interparliamentary meetings as an observer;

Cooperation on foreign and security policy

(f) increase cooperation with Canada in responding to security threats to our societies, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, hybrid attacks, terrorism and interference in democratic societies on both sides of the Atlantic, China’s assertiveness and economic coercion, US retreat from the rules-based international order, the consequences of climate change, AI, cybersecurity and the situation in the Middle East, all of which threaten the social cohesion of our societies;

(g) stress the need for joint efforts and a mutual commitment to promote peace, security, stability and resilience through a holistic approach to defence in other regions of shared interest, including the EU’s immediate neighbourhood, particularly the candidate countries and the South Caucasus;

(h) set out a roadmap to ensure the full and timely implementation of the commitments made in the Security and Defence Partnership, which provides a coherent and comprehensive political framework for dialogue and cooperation across a broad spectrum of peace, security and defence areas, including selected EU security and defence initiatives that complement the parties’ cooperation in NATO, such as the SAFE programme and the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030;

(i) integrate Canada, as far as possible, into the EU’s Defence Technological and Industrial Base with the goal of increasing complementarity and cost-effectiveness for both parties, including integrating military and industrial supply chains and harmonising defence strategies and research in areas such as icebreaker shipbuilding and the operation of harbours; urge EU-Canada cooperation on regulating 5G implementation to comply with strict security standards; encourage the Member States to allow Canadian enterprises to participate in their public procurement processes;

(j) recognise Canada’s ongoing commitment and military contributions to European security, in particular its leadership of NATO’s Operation Reassurance in Latvia, membership of the Global Coalition Against Daesh, NATO’s Capacity Building Initiatives in the Middle East and the Drone Coalition, and encourage further cooperation in key areas to boost drone-related production in synergy with EU industrial and technological initiatives; call for joint European drone and counter-drone capability training centres in cooperation with Canada; propose a bilateral agreement with Canada for secure co-production and tech transfer of capabilities to counter unmanned aerial systems (CUAS) through joint development and financing;

(k) build on Canada’s valuable contribution to both Military Mobility and NetLogHubs projects under the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework and on Canada’s long-standing contributions to common security and defence policy (CSDP) civilian and military missions; encourage further cooperation and the expansion of Canada’s participation in additional PESCO projects and EU defence initiatives;

(l) review and increase cooperation with Canada to combat cyber and hybrid warfare threats and counter destabilising activities such as disinformation spread by hostile states or election interference, including in the EU candidate countries, which significantly threaten social cohesion in our societies;

(m) further advance coordination and cooperation in key areas such as crisis management, peacekeeping, military mobility, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, space security, energy security, AI and emerging technologies, including quantum computing, in order to jointly develop key capabilities;

(n) further build on the EU and Canada’s steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and on their cooperation on and shared commitment to providing, notably through the G7 and Coalition of the Willing formats, long-term political, military, financial and humanitarian assistance, inter alia, by jointly working towards forging a strong international alliance in favour of the use of immobilised Russian sovereign assets in compliance with international law through a reparation loan, as well as by working together on the Ukraine Donor Platform and on setting up post-war security guarantees for Ukraine;

(o) coordinate sanctions, pursue the diplomatic isolation of Russia with Canada and other partners and jointly explore other ways of increasing pressure on Russia;

(p) work jointly with Canada to ensure full accountability for war crimes and other serious crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including by supporting the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine;

(q) further build on the coordinated support of the EU and Canada for the Republic of Moldova’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and resilience in the face of targeted hybrid activities by the Russian Federation and of the repercussions of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;

(r) encourage the Canadian authorities to continue and enhance the country’s participation, alongside the EU, in humanitarian and pro-democracy initiatives, particularly in the case of Belarus, including through increased support for instruments that enable targeted, flexible and effective assistance worldwide;

(s) work together with Canada to jointly foster our common relationship with the United States, which is crucial to the security and economy of both Canada and the EU;

(t) strengthen EU-Canada coordination to address multifaceted challenges posed by China’s growth and assertiveness, including in the Western Balkans;

(u) engage more closely with Canada in upholding stability in the Indo-Pacific, building on Canada’s long-standing presence in the region and aligning their respective Indo-Pacific strategies to promote a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific, including by working jointly with regional partners (such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan and others) on maritime security, connectivity and upholding international law in the East and South China Seas and the Taiwan Strait;

(v) work with Canada towards a just and lasting peace in the Middle East in line with international law through a negotiated two-state solution; step up cooperation to secure the provision of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, and support all diplomatic and operative efforts aimed at enhancing comprehensive regional stability, while ensuring that Hamas plays no future role in Gaza; counter malicious states such as Iran that threaten security and peace in the region; join efforts to support a peaceful political transition and the protection of all communities in Syria; work with Canada to assist Jordan and Lebanon, which are highly affected by instability in the region;

(w) establish a biannual foreign policy dialogue to enable strategic cooperation on the highest priority issues;

(x) underscore the EU and Canada’s shared commitment to advancing the UN Women, Peace and Security Agenda through enhanced bilateral and multilateral cooperation; encourage both sides to develop concrete joint initiatives, capacity-building efforts and diplomatic actions aimed at integrating gender perspectives across peace and security policies;

(y) continue supporting the EU-Canada Green Alliance as a joint commitment to ambitious environmental and climate action on the global stage, including support for the full implementation of the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement;

Strengthening multilateralism

(z) further strengthen cooperation with Canada on defending multilateralism to jointly address the emerging and dangerous geopolitical realities affecting our shared values, interests and security, as well as the social cohesion of our societies;

(aa) reinforce EU-Canada cooperation both in and outside of multilateral forums by coordinating positions, aligning initiatives and working together to defend shared values;

(ab) work together closely and consistently to safeguard the vital role and functioning of international institutions, such as the UN, the International Criminal Court, the WTO and NATO, and international forums such as the G7 and G20; in this respect, call on Canada and other like-minded countries to continue adhering to WTO norms in their bilateral relations with countries other than the United States;

(ac) coordinate efforts to accomplish the long-overdue strategic reform of international organisations, such as the UN and the WTO;

(ad) intensify cooperation within multilateral lending institutions, and enhance capital-market synergies and capacity building, including for defence financing;

Cooperation on the Arctic

(ae) underline the strategic importance of the Arctic region for both the EU and Canada, given its growing geopolitical, environmental and economic relevance; call for deeper EU-Canada cooperation on the Arctic, including on sustainable economic development, freedom of navigation and maritime security, military cooperation, scientific research, and environmental monitoring and protection;

(af) express concern over the militarisation of the Arctic, including Russia’s expansion of military infrastructure and China’s growing strategic presence, and work with Canada and the United States to preserve the Arctic as a region of peace and stability using all appropriate technical and legal tools, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea;

(ag) strengthen multilateral Arctic governance with Canada, including cooperation through the Arctic Council and NATO, and with observer states, to uphold international law and ensure maritime freedom and conflict prevention; promote EU-Canada-led initiatives for dialogue, crisis response and joint exercises;

(ah) encourage the establishment of a dedicated EU-Canada Arctic cooperation framework with structured dialogues between EU and Canadian institutions to promote joint situational awareness and infrastructure protection, tackle climate and environmental challenges, and protect the interests, rights and heritage of Arctic communities and indigenous peoples;

(ai) promote enabling policies that ensure indigenous peoples in the Arctic can exercise their free, prior and informed consent on projects affecting their lands, territories or resources; establish a structured dialogue with Canada on ecosystem and biodiversity protection, the implementation of international environmental standards, resilient infrastructure, maritime security, and the integration of indigenous knowledge into decision-making; encourage closer cooperation in scientific and cultural fields to empower indigenous populations;

(aj) enhance EU-Canada cooperation on Arctic security, including by jointly monitoring strategic maritime corridors, establishing joint early warning systems and threat assessments, addressing hybrid and conventional threats, such as cyberattacks, GPS interference and shadow fleet operations, and safeguarding critical Arctic infrastructure, including submarine cables, pipelines and communication systems;

(ak) recommend that Member States consider new PESCO projects with Canada, such as those on search and rescue or environmental response, to enhance CSDP capabilities in the Arctic; encourage EU-Canada simulation exercises focused on the broad implementation of the Civil Protection Mechanism in the Arctic;

(al) update the EU maritime security strategy and EU space policy to jointly address with strategic partners such as Canada new opportunities and challenges in the Arctic region; assess, in cooperation with Canada, the expansion of existing satellite programmes to cover the Arctic region’s specific needs, including improved use of Copernicus for Arctic monitoring;

(am) encourage close cooperation with Canada on fibre-optic infrastructure development to create new digital corridors that also improve connectivity for Arctic communities and support better healthcare and social services, online education opportunities and access to the global economy;

(an) support efforts to strengthen resilience to potential pressure from the activities of the ever more present People’s Republic of China and other actors that do not prioritise sustainable, rules-based mineral extraction; call for deeper cooperation with Canada and for the East StratCom Task Force to monitor influence campaigns targeting Arctic mineral-extraction decisions;

(ao) deepen cooperation with Canada on tackling the impact of climate change on the Arctic, enhance adaptation strategies, support monitoring activities and increase investments in research, transport, digital and energy infrastructure, space technologies, sustainable shipping, sustainable extraction and processing of raw materials, renewable energy and other low-carbon activities, tourism, and overall resilience;

(ap) promote joint Arctic research initiatives with Canada, ensuring that scientific collaboration also accounts for dual-use security risks; encourage open data sharing, the monitoring of climate, environmental and strategic developments, and the integration of research into policy and security planning;

(aq) work closely with Canada, including through channels such as the Coalition of the Willing, to stand united in safeguarding Greenland’s autonomy and the agency of the Greenlandic people, in the context of increased geopolitical interest in the Arctic, as exemplified by the Trump administration’s rhetoric of annexation, and economic and military coercion of Greenland and China’s declaration that it is a ‘near-Arctic state’; work together with Canada to ensure that high environmental, social and governance standards are applied in the implementation of infrastructure and mining projects in the Arctic;

(ar) strengthen cooperation between the EU, Canada, Denmark and Greenland, building on the historic agreement reached to peacefully resolve long-standing boundary disputes; welcome the signature of the new fisheries-specific Memorandum of Understanding between Greenland and the territory of Nunavut in Canada;

Trade in goods and services, digital trade, investment and economic security

(as) promote the benefits of CETA within the Member States and the EU, which include, but are not limited to, increased market access, simplified trade and reduced administrative barriers for SMEs, in particular by increasing the resources allocated to campaigns to raise EU businesses’ awareness of the trading opportunities; build on CETA’s positive results to work towards its full implementation and seize all opportunities to strengthen the trade and investment relationship with Canada;

(at) further deepen regulatory cooperation in a transparent manner and alignment through the CETA Protocol on the mutual acceptance of the results of conformity assessment and by working more intensively in the CETA Regulatory Cooperation Forum;

(au) start negotiations without delay on an ambitious, stand-alone digital trade agreement to complement CETA, which should not impede the implementation of the EU digital acquis or reduce the future policy space of either party to regulate the digital sphere, and which must fully respect the horizontal provisions on cross-border data flows and personal data protection in EU trade and investment agreements, ensure a high level of online consumer protection and predictable rules for business operators and enhance bilateral cooperation in the digital economy by aligning standards and infrastructure, enhancing competitiveness, ensuring cooperation on cybersecurity, AI and quantum research, and creating new opportunities in e-commerce and digital services, particularly for SMEs;

(av) work closely with Canada to ensure stronger enforcement, clearer impact measurements and enhanced regulatory alignment in relation to the implementation of the trade and sustainable development chapter of CETA, including by combating forced labour and child labour and reflecting on the Canadian Government’s proposals to enhance the enforceability of the trade and sustainable development provisions;

(aw) work closely with Canada to increase civil society access to information and direct involvement in committees under CETA, both before and after each of the relevant specialised committee meetings;

(ax) work closely with Canada to put in place a system, under CETA, for gathering gender-disaggregated data on the sectors of operation of women-owned businesses and on women’s trading activities;

(ay) continue working with Canada to identify an appropriate instrument and concrete joint activities to facilitate access to CETA for indigenous peoples and ensure that they benefit from it and are meaningfully consulted and involved, including by ensuring their free, prior and informed consent in the implementation of CETA and of the strategic partnership on raw materials;

(az) recognise that CETA has significantly contributed to the diversification and resilience of EU and Canadian supply chains and to the increase in EU imports of critical raw materials originating from Canada; welcome the Critical Minerals Production Alliance, a Canada-led G7 initiative to diversify and secure the global production and supply of critical minerals; underline that the EU-Canada strategic partnership on raw materials promotes coordination and joint action in response to export restrictions imposed by third countries on critical minerals and other strategically important resources, and reinforces supply chain security and economic resilience; ensure the further development of joint projects under the EU-Canada strategic partnership on raw materials including through strengthened technical and scientific cooperation and increased infrastructure investment, and further strengthen industrial policy dialogue with Canada;

(ba) foster cooperation with Canada as a key partner for energy security and call for the expansion of the EU-Canada High-Level Energy Dialogue to develop joint actions on hydrogen, other sustainable low-carbon technologies, critical energy infrastructure protection and sustainable trade in energy; continue the existing cooperation on nuclear technologies, including fuels and fuel cycle services, through the negotiation of a modernised and comprehensive Canada-Euratom Nuclear Cooperation Agreement;

(bb) explore potential collaboration between the EU, Canada and other like-minded geopolitical entities and regions, such as Latin America and the Indo-Pacific region, or within the framework of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, to promote trade, reduce strategic dependencies, in particular on China, increase resilience, address global trade challenges, including by reinforcing the steel market in order to fight global overcapacity, and allow rules-based trade among partners; welcome, in this respect, the launch of negotiations on the Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, as well as the conclusion of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement;

(bc) urge the 10 Member States that have not yet ratified CETA to do so swiftly; reiterate the importance of the full application of CETA, as an important political signal ahead of the 10-year anniversary, in 2027, of its provisional application, especially in the current geopolitical context, and as a prerequisite for realising the agreement’s full economic potential; engage bilaterally with these Member States to identify their concerns;

Global development

(bd) ensure close coordination with Canada to help fill critical gaps, reinforce multilateral development frameworks, act as a stronger counterweight to authoritarian regimes and counter their growing global influence, promote sustainable development, the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, and inclusive international partnerships, and maintain support for civil society and democratic resilience, including in the EU’s neighbourhood and the EU candidate countries, in particular;

(be) jointly address emerging challenges threatening global development, including the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the pause in US foreign assistance;

Education, research and people-to-people ties

(bf) follow up swiftly on the commitment to deepen cooperation in areas such as people-to-people ties, culture, youth, support for inclusive policies and the framework of the EU-Canada Digital Partnership;

(bg) increase societal resilience by leveraging Canada’s association to Horizon Europe, enhancing cooperation on education, research, culture and scientific collaboration in the strategic domains, facilitating and encouraging the transatlantic mobility of students, young entrepreneurs, researchers and investors and of young people in general for work, studies and volunteering, and further exploring the opportunities for people-to-people contacts and study exchanges, building on Erasmus+ and raising awareness about the EU Blue Card labour mobility instrument;

(bh) work closely with Canada on expanding the mutual recognition of regulated professions to other sectors, such as engineering and accounting, following the adoption of a mutual recognition agreement of professional qualifications for architects under CETA[4];

Promotion of democratic resilience and equality

(bi) cooperate with Canada on advancing democratic resilience globally, by promoting a holistic security approach and supporting free media, electoral integrity, social cohesion and civil society in vulnerable democracies;

(bj) enhance cooperation on regulating social media and big tech companies, while strengthening the EU Digital Services Act[5] and Digital Markets Act[6] legislation;

(bk) work closely with Canada to develop responsible AI governance in line with the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, to which both the EU and Canada are signatories;

(bl) foster cooperation and the exchange of good practices to jointly promote equality and the inclusion of marginalised groups in the EU, Canada and globally, building on initiatives such as the EU’s Union of Equality and Canada’s Indigenous Justice Strategy;

Concluding remarks

(bm) continue building a genuine strategic partnership with Canada, based on trust, shared principles and values rooted in international law and democracy;

(bn) promote engagement in cooperation initiatives, not only with Canada’s central government, but also with its provincial and municipal authorities and other relevant bodies;

°

° °

2. Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.


EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The partnership between the EU and the Canada is grounded in common values and a shared commitment to democracy, human rights, the rules-based multilateral order, and the rule of law. In view of growing global instability and multiple challenges affecting both the EU and Canada, the report underlines the need for further strengthening the EU-Canada partnership and following up on the outcomes of the EU-Canada Summit of 23 June 2025 through concrete steps aimed at enhancing cooperation in key areas such as trade, competitiveness and resilience, trans-Atlantic security, education and research, and tackling climate change, while also developing cooperation in areas not yet fully addressed in the EU-Canada partnership, such as strengthening people-to-people ties, culture, youth, and supporting inclusive policies for all.


 

 

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he included in his report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register[7], or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register

 

2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies

Mission of Canada to the European Union

Members of the Cabinet of Canada

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

 

 

 


OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE (27.1.2026)

for the Committee on Foreign Affairs

on a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning an enhanced EU-Canada cooperation in the light of the current geopolitical context, including the threats to Canada’s economic stability and sovereignty

(2025/2168(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Javier Moreno Sánchez

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on International Trade submits the following to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

Motion for a resolution

Citation 6 a (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

– having regard to the EU-Canada strategic partnership on raw materials, launched in June 2021,

Amendment  2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 6 b (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

– having regard to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted on 13 September 2007,

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Citation 6 c (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

– having regard to the Canada-led G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance, launched on 31 October 2025,

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Citation 6 d (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

– having regard to the joint declaration of 12 November 2025 following the fourth Canada – European Union joint ministerial committee meeting,

Amendment  5

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas in a geopolitical context of increased great power rivalry, political volatility and accelerating climate change, the European Union and Canada have a shared and increased interest in deepening their cooperation and upholding the rules-based international order;

A. whereas in a geopolitical context of increased great power rivalry, political volatility, fragmented global supply chains, rising protectionism, weaponisation of trade and accelerating climate change, the European Union and Canada have a shared and increased interest in deepening their cooperation, strengthening their economic ties and upholding the rules-based international order;

Amendment  6

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

Da. whereas the impact of CETA is assessed as positive, significantly increasing trade in goods and services between the EU and Canada by around 63 % and EUR 75.6 billion, abolishing 99 % of tariff lines and having a positive direct effect on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in both the EU and Canada, with an increasing number of SMEs engaging in bilateral trade; whereas initial fears of Canadian beef flooding the European market have not been realised, with only around 2 % of the annual quota for beef established under CETA being used in 2023;

Amendment  7

Motion for a resolution

Recital D b (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

Db. whereas CETA provides for a framework for the mutual recognition of qualifications in regulated professions such as architecture, accountancy and engineering;

Amendment  8

Motion for a resolution

Recital D c (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

Dc. whereas challenges in CETA enforcement persist in some areas, such as regulatory cooperation, the chapter on trade and sustainable development, and the transparent access to complete procurement data, as identified in the study entitled ‘Study in support of an ex-post evaluation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and its Member States and Canada’1a;

______________

1a European Commission: Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security et al., Study in support of an ex-post evaluation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and its Member States and Canada – Final report – Annexes, Publications Office of the European Union, 2025, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2781/9705637

Amendment  9

Motion for a resolution

Recital D d (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

Dd. whereas the CETA chapter on e-commerce is limited in scope and does not contain robust and comprehensive rules on digital trade such as those included in more recent trade agreements;

Amendment  10

Motion for a resolution

Recital D e (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

De. whereas there is longstanding cooperation between the EU and Canada in the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as a commitment to working together to stabilise and strengthen the rules-based international trading system, modernise the WTO and revitalise its dispute settlement system, including through the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement;

Amendment  11

Motion for a resolution

Recital D f (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

Df. whereas a stable, open and mutually beneficial trading environment, such as the cooperation between the EU and Canada, delivers tangible results, driving economic growth, promoting innovation and creating opportunities for businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic;

Amendment  12

Motion for a resolution

Recital D g (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

Dg. whereas reform of the WTO is necessary to preserve a fair, predictable and rules-based global trading system, the existence of which is currently under threat;

Amendment  13

Motion for a resolution

Recital D h (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

Dh. whereas the Government of Canada has put forward proposals to enhance the enforceability of CETA’s trade and sustainable development provisions;

Amendment  14

Motion for a resolution

Recital D i (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

Di. whereas the trade and sustainable development chapter and the provision on the protection of investors in CETA are outdated and do not reflect current Commission policy;

Amendment  15

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point o

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(o) work together to safeguard the vital role and functioning of multilateral institutions, such as the UN, G7, G20 and NATO;

(o) work together to safeguard the vital role and functioning of multilateral institutions, such as the UN, G7, G20, WTO and NATO;

Amendment  16

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point o a (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(oa) reinforce the EU’s and Canada’s commitment to sustainable, fair and open trade, grounded in the rule of law and in respect for internationally agreed trade rules, as embodied by the World Trade Organization (WTO), and work closely, both bilaterally with Canada and together with Canada and other like-minded countries, to achieve the long-needed reform of multilateral organisations, in particular the WTO, in order to modernise global trade rules, strengthen the WTO’s monitoring and transparency functions and resolve the issue of the dispute settlement system;

Amendment  17

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point o b (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(ob) stress that any agreement with the United States must be consistent with WTO rules, particularly the principles of most-favoured-nation treatment, national treatment and transparency; insist that the international trading system should not be further weakened and expresses its concern about the use of unilateral and discriminatory measures that contravene WTO provisions and the international rules-based order; call on Canada and other like-minded countries to continue adhering to WTO norms in their bilateral relations with countries other than the United States, while emphasising the importance of EU-Canada cooperation in responding to the spillover effects of third-country tariff measures;

Amendment  18

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point s

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(s) promote the benefits of CETA within the Member States and the EU, which include, but are not limited to, increased market access, simplified trade and reduced barriers for SMEs;

(s) promote the benefits of CETA within the Member States and the EU, which include, but are not limited to, increased market access, simplified trade and reduced barriers for SMEs; further enhance the ability of SMEs to participate in and benefit from the opportunities created by CETA, in particular by increasing the resources allocated to campaigns to raise EU businesses’ awareness of the trading opportunities and by further reducing administrative burdens, while strengthening regulatory cooperation in a transparent manner; build on CETA’s positive results to work towards its full implementation and seize all opportunities to strengthen trade cooperation with Canada;

Amendment  19

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point s a (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(sa) recognise that CETA has significantly contributed to the diversification and resilience of EU and Canadian supply chains and to the increase in EU imports of critical raw materials originating from Canada, including mineral fuels and oils (321 % increase) and chemicals (119 % increase);

Amendment  20

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point s b (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(sb) welcome the Critical Minerals Production Alliance, a Canada-led G7 initiative to diversify and secure the global production and supply of critical minerals; underline that the EU-Canada strategic partnership on raw materials promotes coordination and joint action in response to export restrictions imposed by third countries on critical minerals and other strategically important resources; stress that this cooperation will reinforce supply chain security and economic resilience with the aim of achieving the EU’s green and digital transformation objectives; ensure the further development of joint projects under the EU-Canada strategic partnership on raw materials and further strengthen industrial policy dialogue with Canada;

Amendment  21

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point s c (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(sc) work closely with Canada to further enhance the EU-Canada trade and investment relationship, advance and diversify trade between the EU and Canada, promote the economic security and resilience of both partners, create investment opportunities and ensure the EU’s long-term security and prosperity, as was highlighted at the EU-Canada Summit in June 2025;

Amendment  22

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point s d (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(sd) further deepen regulatory alignment through the CETA Protocol on the mutual acceptance of the results of conformity assessment and by work more intensively in the CETA Regulatory Cooperation Forum;

Amendment  23

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point s e (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(se) explore potential collaboration between the EU, Canada and other like-minded geopolitical entities and regions, such as Latin America and the Indo-Pacific region, or within the framework of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, to promote trade, reduce strategic dependencies, in particular on China, increase resilience, address global trade challenges, including by reinforcing the steel market in order to fight global overcapacity, and allow for rules-based trade among partners;

Amendment  24

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point s f (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(sf) start negotiations without delay on an ambitious stand-alone digital trade agreement to complement CETA, which should not prevent the implementation of the EU digital acquis or reduce the future policy space of either party to regulate the digital sphere, and which must fully respect the horizontal provisions on cross-border data flows and personal data protection in EU trade and investment agreements, ensure a high level of online consumer protection and predictable rules for business operators and enhance bilateral cooperation in the digital economy by aligning standards and infrastructure, enhancing competitiveness, ensuring cooperation on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum research, and opening new opportunities in e-commerce and digital services, particularly for SMEs;

Amendment  25

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point s g (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(sg) underline that CETA should be further leveraged to deepen cooperation in strategically important areas, such as AI factories, cybersecurity, infrastructure, making online platforms safer and more inclusive, and developing responsible governance of AI in line with the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, of which both the EU and Canada are signatories;

Amendment  26

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point s h (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(sh) work closely with Canada to ensure stronger enforcement, clearer impact measurement and enhanced regulatory alignment in relation to the implementation of the trade and sustainable development chapter of CETA, including by working against forced labour and child labour and reflecting on the Canadian Government’s proposals to enhance the enforceability of the trade and sustainable development provisions;

Amendment  27

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point s i (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(si) work closely with Canada to increase civil society’s access to information and direct involvement in committees under CETA, both before and after each of the relevant specialised committee meetings;

Amendment  28

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point s j (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(sj) work closely with Canada to put in place a system, under CETA, of gender-disaggregated data on the sectors of operation of women-owned businesses and on women’s trading activity;

Amendment  29

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point s k (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(sk) work closely with Canada towards expanding the mutual recognition of regulated professions to other sectors, such as engineering and accounting, following the adoption of a mutual recognition agreement of professional qualifications for architects under CETA1a, and to raise awareness of existing labour mobility instruments, such as the EU Blue Card;

______________

1a Decision No 1/2024 of the Joint Committee on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications of 10 October 2024 setting out an agreement on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications for architects (OJ L, 2024/2873, 14.11.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/2873/oj).

Amendment  30

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point s l (new)

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

 

(sl) continue working with Canada to identify an appropriate instrument and concrete joint activities to facilitate access to CETA for Indigenous peoples and ensure that they benefit from it and are meaningfully consulted and involved, including by ensuring their free, prior and informed consent in the implementation of CETA and of the strategic partnership on raw materials;

Amendment  31

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 – point t

 

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

(t) call on the 10 Member States that have not yet ratified CETA to do so swiftly, as an important political signal ahead of the 10-year anniversary, in 2027, of its provisional application;

(t) urge the 10 Member States that have not yet ratified CETA to do so swiftly and reiterate the importance of the full application of CETA, including its investment protection provisions, as an important political signal ahead of the 10- year anniversary, in 2027, of its provisional application, especially in the current geopolitical context, and as a prerequisite for realising the agreement’s full economic potential; call on the Commission to engage bilaterally with these Member States to identify their concerns;

 

 

 


ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

The rapporteur for opinion declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not include in his opinion input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register[8], or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

 


 

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted

27.1.2026

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

26

11

5

 


FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

26

+

NI

Taner Kabilov, Lukas Sieper

PPE

Daniel Caspary, Martine Kemp, Ilia Lazarov, Miriam Lexmann, Gabriel Mato, Lídia Pereira, Inese Vaidere, Jörgen Warborn, Iuliu Winkler, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez

Renew

Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Bart Groothuis, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro

S&D

Brando Benifei, Udo Bullmann, Andi Cristea, Hana Jalloul Muro, Bernd Lange, Cristina Maestre, Javier Moreno Sánchez, Ştefan Muşoiu

 

11

-

PfE

Christophe Bay, Anna Bryłka, Enikő Győri, Thierry Mariani, Isabella Tovaglieri

The Left

Manon Aubry, Lynn Boylan, Martin Schirdewan

Verts/ALE

Saskia Bricmont, Markéta Gregorová, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez

 

5

0

ECR

Waldemar Buda, Rihards Kols, Jaak Madison, Daniele Polato, Francesco Torselli

 

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention

 

 

 


 

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted

25.2.2026

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

47

13

5

 


FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

47

+

ECR

Adam Bielan

PPE

Wouter Beke, Ioan-Rareş Bogdan, Krzysztof Brejza, Sebastião Bugalho, Jan Farský, Loucas Fourlas, Michael Gahler, Christophe Gomart, Rasa Juknevičienė, Sandra Kalniete, Łukasz Kohut, Ondřej Kolář, Andrey Kovatchev, Antonio López-Istúriz White, David McAllister, Francisco José Millán Mon, Davor Ivo Stier, Adrián Vázquez Lázara, Željana Zovko

Renew

Petras Auštrevičius, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Engin Eroglu, Bernard Guetta, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Marjan Šarec

S&D

Lucia Annunziata, Robert Biedroń, Tobias Cremer, Elio Di Rupo, Sandra Gómez López, Hana Jalloul Muro, Costas Mavrides, Matjaž Nemec, Tonino Picula, Thijs Reuten, Chloé Ridel, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Andreas Schieder, Marta Temido

Verts/ALE

Jaume Asens Llodrà, Sergey Lagodinsky, Hannah Neumann, Leoluca Orlando, Mounir Satouri, Villy Søvndal

 

13

-

ECR

Sebastian Tynkkynen

ESN

Tomasz Froelich, Alexander Sell

NI

Grzegorz Braun, Kostas Papadakis

PfE

Mieke Andriese, Jorge Martín Frías, António Tânger Corrêa, Hermann Tertsch

The Left

Marc Botenga, Danilo Della Valle, Özlem Demirel, Rima Hassan

 

5

0

ECR

Marion Maréchal, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza

PPE

Vangelis Meimarakis

PfE

Fabrice Leggeri, Pierre-Romain Thionnet

 

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention

Last updated: 2 March 2026
Legal notice - Privacy policy