Canada and the European Union to Hold Summit in Ottawa

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that he will meet with Austrian Chancellor and President of the European Council, Viktor Klima, and President of the European Commission, Jacques Santer for the Canada-European Union Transatlantic Summit, to be held in Ottawa on December 17. Austria currently chairs the European Union. The summit marks the second anniversary of the signature of the Canada-European Union Political Declaration and Action Plan, and is one in a series of regularly scheduled meetings between Canada and the European Union carried out at the head of government, ministerial, or senior official levels.

"The relationship we have embarked on with the European Union holds great promise for Canadians and Europeans alike," stated the Prime Minister. "We are working together not only to advance key peace and security issues, but also to create an open and harmonized trading environment in which people on both sides of the Atlantic can, with more ease and confidence, do business and trade with one another."

Also participating in the summit will be Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi, Austrian Vice-Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel and Vice-President of the European Commission Sir Leon Brittan.

Discussions at the meeting will enable Canada and the European Union (EU) to: provide further direction on human security issues such as the control of small arms; examine ways to increase bilateral and multilateral trade cooperation; and enhance collaboration between Canada and the EU in key sectors such as science and technology, both of which are important for job creation and economic growth.

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