02/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU and Canada to step up cooperation on foreign policy issues. In a press release dated Tuesday 1 December, the High Representative of the EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini announced that she and Canadian Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion had agreed that it was possible to step up dialogue and cooperation between the EU and Canada on a number of foreign policy issues. These include the situation in Syria and Iraq, Libya, the peace process in the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia and the migration challenge. During their meeting, the Mogheirni and Dion also stressed the importance of effective multilateralism and reinforcing cooperation within the framework of the United Nations. Although Canada is one of the “EU's closest strategic partners”, Mogherini said that she “looked forward to the intensification of the EU-Canada relationship” following the conclusion of talks last year on the strategic partnership agreement and on the global economic and commercial agreement, the press release adds. The EU-Canada framework agreement celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2016. (CG)