Canada-European Union Transatlantic Summit

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced today that a Canada-European Union Transatlantic Summit will be held in Ottawa on December 4, with the participation of the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and President of the European Council, Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, Mr. Jacques Santer, and the Vice-President of the European Commission, Sir Leon Brittan.

This meeting, the second since the signature of the Canada-European Union Political Declaration and Action Plan in December 1996, will provide an opportunity to assess progress achieved since then and to enhance cooperation between Canada and the European Union in areas which are important for job creation and economic growth in Canada.

The Summit program includes a review of certain bilateral issues, including the joint study to lower tariff and non-tariff barriers between Canada and the European Union, as well as a number of multilateral questions, including trade liberalization.

Minister of National Revenue Herb Dhaliwal and Sir Leon Brittan will sign an Agreement on Customs Cooperation and Mutual Assistance which will significantly increase the ability to combat customs fraud on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Ottawa Transatlantic Summit is one of a series of regular scheduled meetings between Canada and the European Union at head of government, ministerial and senior official levels.

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555