Canada-EU summit: What do both sides want, and what’s at stake?

Canada will host the 21st Canada-EU summit in Montreal on October 29 and 30, as Ottawa seeks closer ties with Europe amid sharply deteriorating relations with the United States. Discussions are expected to cover trade, technology, defence, energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, research and financial services, building on the CETA agreement, which entered into force in 2017. European Council President Antonio Costa, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to attend and issue a joint statement. Von der Leyen proposed in September that Canada become the EU’s first associate member, a move welcomed by Carney.