EU and Canada prepare closer alliance at Montreal summit
Expected outcomes include the conclusion of digital trade negotiations and an agreement aimed at enabling EU financing for Canadian critical minerals projects.
The EU and Canada plan to set priorities for the next year of cooperation at their Montreal summit on 30 October 2026, with announcements expected on digital trade and financing for critical minerals projects.
The two sides are expected to announce that negotiations on a digital trade agreement, begun in the spring, have concluded. Another anticipated outcome is an agreement involving the European Investment Bank and Canada intended to enable the EU to finance Canadian critical minerals projects.
A senior EU official, speaking anonymously about the negotiations, said Canadian raw materials and energy could help the bloc diversify supplies and reduce its reliance on China for critical minerals and Russia for energy. The official also identified opportunities for Canadian fossil fuel and gas supplies to the EU.
The partnership’s name remains contentious. Germany, France, Greece and other countries opposed describing Canada’s status as “associate membership” in the planned joint statement. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had proposed that designation in September.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney downplayed the dispute, saying the substance of cooperation mattered more than its name. He pointed to critical minerals, energy and artificial intelligence as areas where closer ties could strengthen both sides’ sovereignty. European Council President António Costa backed von der Leyen’s ambition while acknowledging that the eventual designation might not matter.
