Brussels, 09/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 8 September, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Canada's Minister for Foreign Affairs John Baird initialled the EU-Canada strategic partnership agreement in Ottawa. This will strengthen and extend the scope of political and economic cooperation between the two partners - partners that are also linked by a free-trade agreement concluded at the end of 2013.
The strategic partnership agreement sets out a framework for increased dialogue and cooperation between the EU and Canada. It “complements the expansion of our economic relationship and enhances our commitment to the principles and values of open economies and societies”, say Ashton and Baird in a joint statement. The agreement outlines the shared values and objectives towards which the two partners are together working - freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, international peace and security, and effective multilateralism - and it consolidates cooperation on energy, sustainable development and the environment, as well as opening new opportunities on research and innovation.
“It allows us to further enrich the political dimension of our relationship to contribute to the deepening of our ties - particularly I think of crisis management and security issues - but also in areas like education and transport, energy, the Arctic, science and technology”, says Ashton. “The parallel finalisation of our comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA) should complete the upgrade of the relationship as a whole”, she states.
At the end of August, the European Commission confirmed completion of the work on finalising the text of the trade agreement, which was sent to the EU member states and Canadian provinces and territories. Resolution of the technical issues that were on hold - particularly that of the management of import quotas for sensitive agricultural products (beef on the European side, and cheese on the Canadian) - has paved the way for the signature and ratification of the CETA before the bilateral summit is held, which is planned in Ottawa on 25 September (see EUROPE 11130). Nevertheless, there is a risk of the thorny issue of the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism being raised by the European side. (EH)