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Canada and European Union to hold Summit in Niagara-On-The-Lake
June 16, 2005
Ottawa, Ontario
NEWS RELEASE
Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced that he will host a Canada-European Union Summit in Niagara-on-the-Lake on June 19, 2005. The EU delegation to the Summit will be led jointly by the President of the European Council and Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker, and the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso.
“Canada and the European Union share fundamental values and are natural allies in the advancement of prosperity, security and stability in the world,” said the Prime Minister. “We are strategic partners. We work closely to find multilateral responses to global issues, and we share an interest in promoting a liberalized global trading regime. I look forward to this opportunity to discuss concrete solutions to key international challenges, such as the fight against terrorism and the management of global threats and regional crises.”
Joining the Prime Minister at the Summit will be Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and International Trade Minister Jim Peterson.
Discussions will focus on how Canada and the EU can work together as strategic partners in tackling key global challenges, such as the situations in Afghanistan and Sudan, the Middle East Peace Process, and nuclear proliferation and human rights in Iran. Trade and investment relations, WTO trade negotiations and enhanced trans-Atlantic economic cooperation will also be important elements of their global assessment.
Leaders will also consult on how best to confront the challenges of climate change and threats to the global commons such as declining fish stocks. They will also examine their approaches to effective multilateralism and the need for improved international institutions, including UN reform and strengthened human rights protection.
Canada-EU summits are held twice a year during each rotating presidency of the European Union. Luxembourg currently holds the presidency until June 30, 2005. The United Kingdom will assume the presidency for the following six months.
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