We, the leaders of Canada and the European Union (EU), meeting today in Quebec City, wish to enhance our strategic partnership and build our relationship for a better future. This Summit constitutes a fundamental opportunity to highlight our shared values and to strengthen the ties that bind us as we confront major global challenges. In response to the concerns of our citizens, we seek to undertake common initiatives and advance our objectives, particularly in three priority areas: our economic partnership, energy and the environment, and international peace and security.
We reiterate our shared objective of promoting free and secure movement between Canada and the EU. Since our last meeting, Canada has lifted visa requirements for six additional member states. Canada and the EU will continue to work together towards the goal of visa-free travel to Canada for all EU citizens as soon as possible.
We welcome the measures already taken to address the financial crisis, and to coordinate our national and collective actions in view of this crisis, notably in the contexts of the G8 and the EU. We reaffirm our determination to continue to act together, in concert with our principle partners and the financial institutions concerned, on all aspects of this problem, to restore confidence and the normal functioning of the financial system, and thus reinstate the conditions for the normal and efficient financing of the economy. We support the convening of an international summit before the end of the year to pursue and support these goals.
Economic partnership
Economic relations between Canada and the EU are excellent: bilateral trade is growing every year and totalled over $80 billion in 2007, while investment levels are high and continue to rise. Canada and the EU share interests in a wide range of areas, which have led to consideration of the possibility of strengthening of our economic partnership.
Canada and the EU are determined to advance negotiations at the World Trade Organization within the context of the Doha Development Agenda following the impasse of July 2008, with a view to reaching a comprehensive, ambitious and balanced agreement that will foster development, and to which all WTO members must contribute.
We agreed in June 2007 in Berlin to collaborate on a joint study to assess the costs and benefits of a closer economic partnership. This study, which has now been released, confirms the significant and reciprocal economic benefits that would result from such a partnership.
Based on the results of the study and the interest demonstrated by our business communities, and in order to provide crucial impetus to creating a stronger, ambitious and balanced economic partnership, Canada and the EU agree to work together to define the scope of a deepened economic agreement and to establish the critical points for its successful conclusion, particularly the involvement of Canada's provinces and territories and EU Member States in areas under their competencies. This agreement will address key issues for both parties.
We are prepared to initiate before the end of the year the steps to obtain the mandates necessary to launch negotiations as early as possible in 2009. We will endeavour to complete these negotiations quickly, once agreement has been reached on all identified issues. This agreement, aimed at strengthening our economic integration, would complement multilateral trade negotiations currently underway at the WTO.
We also welcome the decisive progress achieved towards the negotiation of a comprehensive air transport agreement between Canada and the EU. This agreement will open a new era of transatlantic relations, will improve both the connections between our respective markets and our people-to-people links, and will create new opportunities in the airline sector. We have tasked negotiators to conclude negotiations by November 30th of this year. We are pleased that an air safety agreement has been initialled and will soon be concluded, since it will stimulate activity and simplify administrative requirements.
Energy and the environment
Energy and the environment are priorities for our partnership, which we would like to strengthen further in a number of areas. To meet the challenges related in particular to global warming and energy security, we will take the lead and collaborate specifically to establish a global consensus based on a series of strategic measures and tools at the regional, national and international levels, through joint, cooperative action. Canada and the EU recognize that a global transition toward a low-carbon economy and society is essential and that this goal is within our reach.
We, along with the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, wish to adopt the G8 objective of reducing global emissions by at least 50% by 2050 to implement our common commitment to satisfy the Convention's principles and objectives. In order to be environmentally and economically effective, a post-2012 system to address climate change must include contributions from all of the leading economies, based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. In this regard, Canada and the EU confirm their commitment to implement the Bali roadmap to reach a comprehensive post-2012 agreement in Copenhagen in late 2009. Canada and the EU have each established intermediate objectives for reducing their emissions by 2020.
In order for this shared vision and these medium- and long-term objectives to be credible, developed countries must lead by example and commit to achieving greenhouse gas reduction objectives that are ambitious, comparable and legally-binding. Developing countries, particularly emerging countries, must also commit to a significant reduction in their emissions that is measurable, reportable, and verifiable. Moreover, we reaffirm that the least developed countries should follow the principles of sustainable development without being submitted to mandatory emissions constraints.
We reaffirm that the creation of a global carbon market is one of the main instruments we have for reducing our emissions at a lower cost and promoting the introduction of low-carbon technologies. In this spirit, we will strengthen our development cooperation and the application of effective regulatory frameworks to stimulate innovation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We will moreover take into account to the greatest extent the effects of climate change on world security and the adaptation it will involve for populations.
Beyond the program established at the Berlin Summit in June 2007, we will deepen our High-Level Dialogue on the Environment, particularly through work on biodiversity protection, and the sustainable management of forests, chemicals and waste. We will also encourage the conclusion of an international agreement on the liberalization of environmental goods and services.
We affirm our commitment to strengthen our cooperation in the area of governance and management of the oceans on the basis of a strategy for integrated marine policy, defending the protection and conservation of the marine ecosystem, sustainable development of maritime industries and ensuring sustainable development of marine resources.
We will continue our cooperation in the context of our High-Level Dialogue on Energy, particularly in key areas such as increased energy efficiency, market transparency and the implementation of the latest scientific and technological discoveries, the dissemination of which we will facilitate in developing countries. We will seek to diversify, protect and maintain a safe, sustainable and competitive energy supply, particularly by developing renewable energies. More particularly, we agree to:
- facilitate the deployment of clean coal technologies, specifically carbon dioxide capture and storage,
- cooperate on production processes for second-generation biofuels and the sustainable development of bioenergy,
- promote renewable energies, particularly wind, marine and small-scale hydro electricity, and energy efficiency, fully implementing the international partnership for cooperation in this area introduced at the last G8 Summit,
- strengthen our cooperation mechanisms in the area of research, science and technology,
- move forward the process to review the Euratom-Canada cooperation agreement regarding peaceful uses of atomic energy.
We also reiterate our shared interest and objectives for the Arctic and the North, which include, among others, protecting the environment and ensuring that Northerners can contribute to economic and social development in the region now and in future generations. We recognize and reiterate the importance of, and the global interest in, the international scientific community's research activities. We commit to preparing a joint progress report on Arctic cooperation in 2009, taking into account work completed in the context of the Northern Dimension and the Arctic Council.
Last, Canadians and Europeans are committed to the well-being of all animals. Canada makes great efforts so that its seal hunt is humane, well-regulated and sustainable. The European Commission's proposal on the trade of seal products is also aimed at improving animal well-being. We commit to intensify our dialogue with the countries involved in seal hunting in the context of the implementation of this proposal.
Peace and security
Canada and the EU will expand their joint efforts, particularly within the United Nations framework, to foster the establishment of an international order based on effective multilateralism, international law, democracy, the rule of law and human rights.
With regard to the latest developments in Georgia, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles of Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemn Russia's decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Canada and the EU welcome the significant progress in the implementation of the August 12 and September 8 agreements within the agreed deadlines, particularly notably regarding the international discussions held under point 6 of the August 12 accord, which began in Geneva on October 15. Canada and EU support the October 22 donors' conference in Brussels, organized by the European Commission and World Bank, which will be an important step for the reconstruction of the country. Canada and the EU seek the path of understanding and cooperation with Russia, with the expectation that Russia will conduct itself in a responsible fashion, consistent with its broader commitments.
Canada and the EU express their willingness to cooperate closely, in coordination with the OSCE and the United Nations, to contribute to the reduction of risks in the regions where frozen conflicts persist.
Canada and the EU reaffirm their long-term commitment to stabilization and development in Afghanistan, in accordance with the principles set out in the final statement of the International Conference in Support of Afghanistan, which took place in Paris on June 12, 2008. On this basis, the National Development Strategy must enable the Afghan authorities gradually to take over their responsibilities, and intensify their reform efforts at the political level (respect for human rights and judicial reform) and in terms of security and the economy (agriculture, energy), and better to engage civil society in development projects in order to increase aid effectiveness. We are pleased with the good cooperation between Canada and the EU, particularly regarding the deployment of Canadian police officers as part of the EU police mission in Afghanistan. We will therefore support:
- the planning and holding of the 2009 and 2010 elections;
- the reform of the security sector, notably the police, by reinforcing the EUPOL Afghanistan mission, and the justice and corrections system consistent with commitments made during the Rome conference in July 2007;
- strengthened cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbours in the form of increased support for the implementation of the G8 Afghanistan-Pakistan Initiative agreed in Potsdam in May 2007 and reaffirmed by the G8 Coordination Arrangement in June 2008; strengthened cooperation and capacity building of Afghani and Pakistani border authorities, particularly in the context of the Dubai process.
We are deeply concerned about the proliferation risks associated with Iran's nuclear program and its failure to comply with its international obligations. We urge Iran to respect fully without delay the United Nations Security Council resolutions, and in particular to suspend all uranium enrichment activities, failing which it faces sanctions and growing isolation under the 'dual-track' approach. We call on Iran to cooperate fully with the IAEA and we firmly support the efforts made to resolve the issue through negotiations.
Canada and the EU remain committed to the Middle East Peace Process and stand ready to assist the parties in any way possible to reach a just, lasting and comprehensive peace. We support the Quartet's Roadmap and the Annapolis process and call on the parties to fulfill their respective commitments. We condemn all acts of violence and terrorism. We remain strongly concerned by the continuation of Israeli settlement activities. We urge all parties to respect the commitments made at the Paris donors' conference in support of Palestinian reforms and the establishment of a future Palestinian state that is independent, sovereign, democratic and viable, coexisting in peace and security with the State of Israel.
In Haiti, Canada and the EU are working in close collaboration with the Haitian authorities to promote the modernization of judicial institutions, better access to justice, and implementation of the rule of law, all of which are essential to the country's development. To this end, we commit to consolidate democratic institutions including support for the electoral process, and we will endeavour to promote strengthened local governance. We will continue our efforts to help Haiti recover from the effects of recent hurricanes, to modernize a transportation corridor, and to complete the construction of a border post between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
As donors to and partners of the AU-UN peace mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Canada and the EU are working to promote peace and improve the humanitarian situation in Sudan. In this regard, we call on all parties to honour their ceasefire commitments and we reaffirm our commitment to the fight against impunity. We call on Sudan to cooperate with the International Criminal Court. We call on the Government of Sudan and the autonomous government in southern Sudan to implement without delay the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between north and south Sudan.
Canada and the EU deplore the ongoing violence and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Somalia. We share the same concern with regard to the resurgence of piracy along the Somali coast, and reiterate our contribution to the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions 1814 and 1816.
Cooperation in civilian and military crisis management is now a critical tool in our joint approach to global and regional issues. In an effort to strengthen our cooperation, we have approved a joint work program dealing with crisis management, conflict prevention and training, including:
- strengthened police cooperation in the field in Afghanistan, the Balkans and the Palestinian territories;
- and strengthened cooperation to build capacity in the areas of conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, and crisis management in Africa.
We will deepen our dialogue on issues related to the responsibility to protect, with the objective of providing greater operational scope to this concept.
Electoral observation is an area of close cooperation between Canada and the EU. We welcome the exchange of letters to facilitate this cooperation and to make it more effective.
We will seek to identify and implement shared responses to address the world's food crisis in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals.
Last, we will continue to focus our attention on the consequences of the increase in the cost of energy and raw materials.
