Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand and the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas met in Niagara for the fourth Canada–EU Joint Ministerial Committee, focusing on deepening transatlantic cooperation in trade, security, and maritime connectivity.
Canada, EU Strengthen Maritime Security Partnership
The meeting reviewed progress since the June 2025 summit, where both sides had agreed to strengthen their partnership under the Strategic Partnership Agreement and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Maritime security and logistics featured prominently in the discussions.
The committee confirmed that Canada and the EU will enhance coordination in the North Atlantic, the Arctic Ocean, and other key waterways including the Baltic, Black and Mediterranean Seas. Both parties emphasized maintaining freedom of navigation and maritime stability, highlighting these as essential to energy security, trade resilience, and global supply chain reliability.
Efforts will continue to develop secure and sustainable shipping routes, diversify energy supply chains—including liquefied natural gas and clean technology—and advance cooperation on critical raw materials essential for shipbuilding and green transport.
The new Canada–EU Security and Defence Partnership is set to improve joint responses to hybrid and maritime threats, including cyber incidents and disruptions to sea lanes.
Canada and EU Unite to Promote Secure and Sustainable Oceans
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to work in complementarity with NATO and to strengthen defences against illicit maritime activity.
Beyond the Atlantic, the meeting underscored shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific and Arctic regions. Canada and the EU agreed to promote a “free, open, and resilient” Indo-Pacific maritime environment guided by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and to ensure that the Arctic remains a region of peace and cooperation despite growing strategic competition. The two sides also reaffirmed cooperation on sustainable ocean management, fisheries governance, and climate resilience in coastal and shipping sectors.
Both parties highlighted their continued work in the World Trade Organization to strengthen the rules-based system underpinning international maritime trade and reiterated their commitment to climate and environmental cooperation through the EU-Canada Green Alliance, including the transition to cleaner fuels and low-carbon shipping.
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Source: en.portnews
