The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the 17th Canada-European Union Summit will be held in Montréal, Quebec, from July 17 to 18, 2019. Prime Minister Trudeau will host, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for the Summit.
During the Summit, the leaders will explore how Canada and the EU can work together on common priorities and key challenges, including building economies that work for everyone, fighting climate change, advancing gender equality, and defending the rules-based international order.
The leaders will also highlight the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which is creating new opportunities and good, middle class jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. Since coming into force in 2017, CETA has helped people and businesses prosper across Canada and the EU. Thanks to the agreement, Canadian workers and businesses now have unprecedented access to the world’s second-largest market. The leaders will also discuss the Strategic Partnership Agreement, signed together with CETA, which is further strengthening ties and deepening cooperation between Canada and the EU.
Montréal, the host city for this year’s summit, has seen the benefits of CETA firsthand. During the first year the agreement was in force, the Port of Montréal saw a significant increase in cargo – 55% of which connects to Europe– more than doubling the average annual historical growth. The Maritime Employers Association increased its labour force by 20%, and hired 200 people to keep up with the extra dock traffic.
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“Canada and the EU are close partners, allies, and friends. Our partnership is even stronger thanks to CETA, which is creating good jobs and new opportunities for Canadians and Europeans alike. I look forward to meeting with President Tusk and President Juncker at next week’s summit. We’ll discuss how we can work together on the most pressing global challenges – and make life better for people on both sides of the Atlantic.”
— The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
