It’s Time to Strengthen the Ties That Bind Us – EU Commissioner

(Embassy – Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commission)

Benita Ferrero-Waldner is the member of the European Commission in charge of external relations and European neighbourhood policy.

The next EU-Canada Summit, which will be held in Montreal on October 17, will be an opportunity for the leaders of Canada and the EU, represented by the Presidency, currently France, and the European Commission and Council, to agree to move forward in a number of areas, such as trade and investment, where both sides want to strengthen our economic partnership.

In preparation, we have undertaken a joint study to set out the parameters of such an economic partnership. If we decide to launch a new economic agreement with Canada, the EU would hope for an ambitious agenda going far beyond a classic trade agreement – one that can help us both address the challenges of the new globalized economy of the 21st century.

As a first step towards strengthening our bilateral economic relations, at the end of last year we launched negotiations for an EU-Canada “Open Skies” Air Services Agreement. Our goal is to sign an agreement with Canada whereby any airline could fly from anywhere in Canada to anywhere in the European Union, and vice versa. Our experience within Europe has demonstrated that such an agreement would open up new destinations and routes to both EU and Canadian airlines, while increasing efficiency and reducing fares.

The EU is fully committed to this process and we are prepared to conclude the Open Skies Agreement as soon as possible. It is an agreement where the travelling public will see immediate and tangible results.

At the summit in Montreal, we will also compare notes on climate change, one of the big challenges of our time, which must be addressed – and with all countries on board. Despite the high costs and the sacrifices, we have made significant progress in Europe, and we have an exemplary and operational carbon-trading scheme in place.

As well, we will discuss global stability, security and our military missions, including Afghanistan, where both the EU and Canada are working closely to bring peace, stability and prosperity to the region. In addition to the military missions, under NATO, the EU – in close co-operation with Canada – is actively engaged in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, as well as in humanitarian endeavours, in order to improve the lives of the people of Afghanistan.

I would like to express our appreciation to Canada, which provides the largest contingent of police to the EU-led police mission to Afghanistan, which is training and assisting the local Afghan police forces.

Our efforts to bring peace, security and prosperity to Afghanistan come naturally, as that has been our goal in Europe since we established our common institutions and policies in Europe in the period after the Second World War.

From six countries in the early 1950s, the European Union has now grown to 27 Member States, in the process creating not just peace, security, stability and prosperity, but an integrated economic and political entity. Also, the European Union as such has gradually become a major international actor, both economically as the largest trading bloc and politically.

We act in partnership with countries such as Canada, which share our values of democracy, freedom, economic enterprise, justice and the rule of law.

Lastly, I would like to emphasize how much the European Union appreciates Canada lifting the visa requirements for our new Member States in Central and Eastern Europe. These countries suffered much during the Second World War and were then subjected to a totalitarian Communist regime behind the Iron Curtain for 40 years. Today they are free, members of the EU, and have the highest growth rates in Europe. I hope the citizens of Bulgaria and Romania too will soon also enjoy visa free travel to Canada.

In conclusion let me extend my congratulations on the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City this year. Mes sincères félicitations!