14 June 2013
Paris, France
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the launch of an Enhanced Cooperation Agenda (ECA) with France, which provides a strategic framework for implementing further economic, social, political and security initiatives between the two countries. The announcement was made during an official visit to France.
“Canada and France enjoy a long and rich history of partnership and cooperation,” said Prime Minister Harper. “The Enhanced Cooperation Agenda that President Hollande and I endorsed today will provide a framework for our countries to further strengthen our excellent economic, political, cultural and people-to-people ties, laying the groundwork for years of further collaboration.”
This Agenda covers the vast relationship between Canada and France, and establishes a roadmap of concrete areas of collaboration that will evolve over the coming months and years.
More specifically, the two countries will use the ECA as a mechanism to facilitate cooperation in areas such as sustainable economic growth, international security and defence, and human rights.
Today’s announcement delivers on a commitment made by both countries in the Canada-France Joint Statement, announced during Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault’s visit to Canada in March 2013.
