Foreign Affairs Minister to participate in meetings with EU, NATO and OSCE

News Release

December 3, 2017 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that she will be in Belgium and Austria from December 4 to 8, 2017, to attend a series of international meetings.

On December 4, the Minister will be in Brussels, Belgium, to attend the first meeting of the Canada-EU Joint Ministerial Committee, created under the new Canada-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement signed alongside the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). During this meeting, the Minister will discuss ways to broaden Canada’s cooperation with the EU on a variety of foreign policy issues, including international peace and security, climate change, gender equality, counterterrorism, and the promotion of human rights and rule of law. She will meet with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, as well as a number of EU member states.

From December 5 to 6, the Minister will participate in the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting, also in Brussels. Canada is a strong and committed NATO ally. As such, the Minister will highlight Canada’s perspectives on transatlantic security matters, including NATO’s efforts to project stability and counterterrorism.

Finally, the Minister will be in Vienna, Austria, from December 7 to 8, to attend the 24th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The Minister, participating in her first Ministerial Council, will advance Canada’s priorities in international security and human rights, focusing attention on Ukraine and Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. 

Quotes

“In a world where our values and interests are increasingly challenged, Canada’s partnership with its European allies is more essential than ever. I look forward to reaffirming Canada’s continued commitment to a rules-based international order, democratic freedoms, and transatlantic cooperation and security.”

- Hon. Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick Facts

  • During the last Canada-EU Summit in October 2016, Canada signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement, alongside CETA. The Strategic Partnership Agreement has been provisionally applied since April 1, 2017, and CETA since September 21, 2017.

  • Working with the host nation, Canada is leading NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence multinational battle group in Latvia. The Canadian-led battle group includes contributions from Albania, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Spain.

  • Canada is a founding participating state of the OSCE, the world’s largest regional security organization.

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Adam Austen
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Adam.Austen@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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