Canada and the European Union begin their 19th bilateral summit with the aim of increasing cooperation

Toronto (Canada), November 23 (EFE). – Canada and the European Union began their nineteenth bilateral summit on Thursday evening in the Canadian city of San Juan de Terranova with the aim of increasing their cooperation on economic issues. Technology and security.

At the opening of the summit, which will conclude on Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the meeting, which is also attended by the President of the Council of Europe, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is “essential and essential.”

Trudeau, Michel and von der Leyen agreed to point out on Thursday that the planet is going through “difficult times,” with the “hangover” of the pandemic yet to be overcome and countries facing the effects of the serious climate crisis along with conflicts like those in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.

“We are in a moment of extraordinary consequences,” Trudeau said, referring to the concerns pressing on citizens around the world in the face of geopolitical changes, the rise of authoritarianism or the disruption of international trade, to name just a few of the most pressing problems. serious.

In this sense, the Canadian Prime Minister added that the two-day summit in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on the banks of the Atlantic Ocean, represents the will of Canada and the European Union to work together “towards a better future.”

Trudeau has already predicted that at the conclusion of the summit, Canada will join the European Union’s research and innovation program, Horizon Europe.

Digital agreements and a “Green Alliance” to combat the climate crisis will also be announced on Friday, as well as an agreement to produce Canadian Canadair aircraft to fight fires in Europe.

In addition, Canada and the European Union will strengthen their strategic partnership in the field of bio-raw materials, an area in which the North American country is one of the world’s major exporters.

Regarding the conflicts in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, both Canada and the 27 countries will offer their agreement in the final declaration to be issued on Friday.

Senior European Union officials indicated on Wednesday, in response to EFE’s questions, that the summit was likely to conclude with a “strong” declaration in defense of a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Regarding Ukraine, Canada and the European Union are expected to announce an agreement for Ottawa to take in more refugees, as well as a renewed commitment to punish Russia for invading its neighbour.