EU and Canada prepare bilateral pacts on critical minerals, energy, and 50 firefighting planes
A draft joint declaration ahead of the 29 October summit in Montreal outlines cooperation on critical raw materials, digital trade, LNG feasibility, and a joint purchase of 50 De Havilland aircraft.
Summit preparations in Montreal
The European Union and Canada are finalizing a series of bilateral agreements ahead of a leaders summit scheduled to open on 29 October 2026 in Montreal. A draft joint declaration distributed to ambassadors across the 27 EU member states outlines plans to strengthen strategic and economic ties in response to trade friction and changing geopolitical alliances. The bilateral push follows a proposal earlier in September by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to invite Canada as the first associate member of the EU. That suggestion prompted US President Donald Trump to issue tariff threats against participating partners.
Canada and the EU, with our unparalleled trade access, shared values and complementary economic advantages, can build a deeper and more integrated relationship.
Strategic minerals and digital commerce
Under the negotiated text, both partners plan to accelerate capital investments in critical raw materials and secure industrial supply chains. The European Investment Bank is preparing to participate in Canadian strategic mineral mining projects, aiming to reduce dependence on external suppliers. European and Canadian negotiators are also examining the creation of joint critical resource stockpiles to shield domestic industries from market volatility and geopolitical disruptions. In the technology sector, the draft establishes a digital trade agreement intended to make cross-border transactions faster, cheaper, and more secure, supported by formal operational cooperation between European and Canadian competition authorities. The pact seeks to eliminate existing barriers in digital commerce, establishing standard protocols for electronic data transfer while maintaining regulatory oversight across international transactions.
- European Commission proposes associate EU membership status for Canada
- EU-Canada leaders summit opens in Montreal to present bilateral pacts
- Target deployment deadline for 50 joint-procurement De Havilland firefighting aircraft
Energy partnerships and aircraft procurement
Energy diversification is another pillar of the summit agenda. The text provides for a formal feasibility study on exporting Canadian liquefied natural gas to European buyers. Alongside fossil energy adjustments, the two sides intend to harmonize industrial standards for low-carbon energy systems. The cooperation spans multiple energy categories, encompassing hydroelectricity, solar, wind, and nuclear power generation.
The draft text also details an agreement for the joint purchase of 50 firefighting aircraft manufactured by the Canadian aerospace producer De Havilland. The amphibious planes are scheduled to be deployed by 2030 to bolster wildfire response capabilities across Europe and Canada following successive severe wildfire seasons.
Educational mobility and defense cooperation
Beyond commerce and industry, the draft declaration introduces measures to increase mobility for citizens between Canada and the European Union. Canadian officials will begin formal accession talks to enter the EU Erasmus educational exchange program, establishing structured pathways for students, researchers, and professionals to work and study abroad. The agreement also sets frameworks enabling European and Canadian citizens to pursue broader employment and research opportunities across both jurisdictions.
The declaration also reaffirms joint diplomatic and logistical support for Ukraine while seeking to coordinate responses to trade measures from the United States and China. European and Canadian negotiators expect to finalize the texts for official signing before the Montreal meetings conclude at the end of October.
