Chronology of EU-Canada Relations

1959

  • Canada-Euratom Nuclear Cooperation Treaty is signed.
  • Canadian ambassador to Belgium is also accredited to the EC.

1972

  • Inauguration in Ottawa of Semi-Annual High Level EC-Canada Consultations on bilateral and multilateral issues
  • EC Heads of Government call for "constructive dialogue" with Canada
  • Canadian Government aide-memoire outlines possible agreement with the EC
  • Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs Mitchell Sharp publishes his Three Options vis-à-vis the US – proposing the Third Option as policy

1973

  • Canada accredits ambassador exclusively to the EC and establishes a separate mission in Brussels
  • Report by the Standing Senate Committee on External Affairs recommends economic cooperation with the EC

1974

  • Inauguration of annual meetings between Canadian and European Parliamentarians
  • EC Council of Ministers charges European Commission with exploring possibility of negotiating with Canada

1975

  • Exchange of Letters on Environmental Cooperation
  • In a second visit to a number of European capitals Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau seeks a "Contractual Link" with the European Community of Nine

1976

  • EC Commission's Delegation at 350 Sparks Street, Ottawa, is officially opened on February 19 by Commission President François-Xavier Ortoli
  • EC-Canada Framework Agreement for Commercial and Economic Cooperation is signed in Ottawa
  • EC-Canada Joint Cooperation Committee holds first meeting in Brussels

1977

  • First meeting of the Industrial Cooperation Sub-Committee in Brussels

1978

  • Canada-Euratom Agreement is updated

1979

  • Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Bus is signed
  • Canada-EC Exchange of Letters concerning cooperation in steel research
  • Canada-EC Fisheries Agreement is signed
  • Agreement between the EC and Canada concerning certain products in the fruit and vegetable sector

1980

  • Agreement is signed on the management of radioactive wastes

1981

  • Canada-EC Exchange of Letters on reprocessing of nuclear material
  • Canada-EC Long Term Fisheries Agreement is signed

1982

  • World Symposium on Asbestos in Montreal

1983

  • Agreement is signed concerning research on waste water treatment
  • Canada-Euratom Agreement is updated again
  • Canada-EC Long Term Fisheries Agreement is amended by an Exchange of Letters

1984

  • Arrangement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the EC and Canada on the establishment of a scientific observation programme in the Regulatory Area of the NAFO Convention
  • Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Medical and Public Health Research is signed
  • EC organizes in Toronto its first Business Information Seminar
  • The first EU Film Festival is held in Ottawa

1985

  • Canada and the EC sign agreement to extend the Canada-Euratom Nuclear Cooperation Agreement for 20 years

1986

  • Memorandum of Understanding on the Collaboration in Fusion Research and Development is signed
  • The EC participates in EXPO 86 in Vancouver

1987

  • Memorandum of Understanding on the Processing of Complex Sulphite Minerals
  • Memorandum of Understanding on Health and Environmental Effects of Radiation

1988

  • Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion

1989

  • Canada and the EC sign Agreement on Trade in Alcoholic Beverages

1990

  • Canada and the EC issue Transatlantic Declaration in Rome

1991

  • Visit to Ottawa of Commission President Jacques Delors, together with Luxembourg Prime Minister Jacques Santer, to inaugurate the Heads of Government meetings established under the Transatlantic Declaration
  • The EC Hot Air Balloon participates in the 4th Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival

1992

  • The EC participates in Globe 92 in Vancouver
  • The EC Hot Air Balloon participates in the 5th Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival

1993

  • EC participates in Intercomm 93 in Vancouver
  • Canada joins the EU Business Cooperation Network BC-Net
  • EC-Canada Administrative Arrangement in information exchange on environmental and technological aspects of mining, mineral processing, metal recycling and waste reduction
  • Exchange of letters between the EC and Canada concerning fisheries relations

1994

  • EC participates in Globe 94 in Vancouver
  • EC-Canada Administrative Arrangement in information exchange on steels for off-shore structures
  • Commission President Jacques Delors delivers the Sylvia Ostry Foundation Lecture in Ottawa
  • Inauguration of the first Jean Monnet Chair in Canada at the University of Montreal
  • EU-Canada Conference in Toronto
  • Agreement on certain oil seeds between the EC and Canada pursuant to Article XXVIII of the GATT

1995

  • EU-Canada agreement on fisheries enforcement and conservation following Greenland Halibut dispute
  • Canada and the EU sign Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement
  • Canada and the EU sign Nuclear Fusion Agreement
  • Agreement for the conclusion of negotiations between the EC and Canada under Article XXIV:6
  • Agreement between the EC and Canada establishing a cooperation programme in higher education and training
  • Implementing agreement between the EC and Canada on the involvement of Canada in the European Atomic Energy Community contribution to the engineering design activities for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
  • Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the EC and Canada

1996

  • The Joint Canada-EU Political Declaration and Action Plan were signed
  • The agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Canada and the EC was signed

1997

  • Agreement between the EC and Canada on customs cooperation and mutual assistance in custom matters
  • Agreement on international humane trapping standards between the EC, Canada and the Russian Federation
  • Exchange of letters between the EC, US, Japan, Australia, Norway, Switzerland, and Canada recording the common understanding on the principles of international cooperation on research and development activities

1998

  • Agreement between Canada and the European Atomic Energy Community for cooperation in the area of nuclear research
  • Agreement on mutual recognition between the EC and Canada
  • Agreement between the EC and Canada on sanitary measures to protect public and animal health
  • Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the EC and Canada amended

1999

  • Joint Statement by Canada and the European Union on Northern Cooperation
  • Agreement between the EC and Canada regarding the application of their competition laws
  • EU-Canada Joint Statement on Electronic Commerce in the Global Information Society
  • EU-Canada Joint Statement on Small Arms and Anti-Personnel Mines

2000

  • Agreement between the EC and Canada renewing a cooperation programme in higher education and training
  • EU-Canada Joint Statement on Defence and Security
  • EU-Canada Joint Statement on Cooperation in Satellite Navigation
  • EU Joint Statement on Cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs

2001

  • EU-Canada Summit held in Ottawa
  • EU-Canada Joint Statement on Climate change
  • EU-Canada Joint Statement on Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament
  • EU-Canada Joint Statement on Cooperation in UN Fora
  • EU-Canada Summit held in Stockholm

2002

  • The EC and Canada conclude negotiations on new cereal import regime
  • EU-Canada Summit held in Toledo
  • EU-Canada Cooperation leads to European students participating in internships across Canada
  • The Young Journalist Award, which is an EU Award for outstanding Canadian Journalism Students, is created

2003

  • EU-Canada Summit in Athens
  • Agreement between the EC and Canada on trade in wines and spirit drinks
  • Exchange of letters between the EC and Canada for the modification of concessions with respect to cereals.

2004

  • Canada and the EU agree to the Partnership Agenda, which widens the relationship to new political areas of cooperation
  • Canada and the EU agree on Framework on Regulatory Cooperation and Transparency

2005

  • EUPOL-Canada Agreement signed
  • Agreement between the EC and Canada establishing a framework for Canadian participation in the EU crisis management operations
  • Agreement between the EC and Canada on the processing of Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Data
  • An exchange of letters between the EC and Canada regarding sanitary measures to protect public and animal health.

2006

  • NAFO reform package is adopted
  • Joint EU-Canada Inspection Patrol in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean
  • Agreement between the EC and Canada establishing a framework for cooperation in higher education, training, and youth

2007

  • EU-Canada Summit held in Berlin
  • Canada and the EU agree to a Joint Study to examine and assess the costs and benefits of a closer economic partnership
  • The EU welcomes a new Canadian initiative to establish a police and justice sector In-Service Training Facility (ISTF) in Kandahar, Afghanistan
  • A memorandum of understanding is signed by Canada and the EC regarding cooperation on a range of immigration and asylum issues
  • A draft agreement between the EC and Canada regarding aviation safety is initialled
  • EU-Canada agrees to begin negotiations regarding open skies travel
  • Agreement between the EC and Canada on the conclusion of GATT Article XXIV

2008

  • Canada and the EU release a Joint Study on Assessing the Costs and Benefits of a Closer EU-Canada Economic Partnership
  • The EU and Canada hold Summit in Quebec City
  • Canada and the EU agree to conduct a Scoping Exercise – to determine the scope of the proposed economic partnership
  • Canada-EC exchange of letters on regulation and standard guidelines for the participation of Canadian observers in EU EOMs.
  • Meetings in Ottawa and Brussels to enhance existing bilateral agreements and review current bilateral issues
  • Canada-EU exchange of letters on agriculture policy issues
  • Joint Review of the API/PNR agreement takes place
  • The EU and Canada hold the first high level Energy Dialogue in Ottawa

2009

  • Canada and the EU release the joint report on the EU-Canada Scoping Exercise
  • EU-Canada Agreement on Civil Aviation Safety
  • The launch of negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is announced at the EU-Canada Summit in Prague
  • Lisbon Treaty comes into effect.

2010

  • Commission Delegation in Ottawa becomes Delegation of the European Union to Canada
  • The rotating EU presidency ceases outside the European Union and the EU Delegation speaks on behalf of the EU – and chairs joint meetings with the Member States.
  • Canada-EU Summit in Brussels
  • EU participates in G8 Summit in Muskoka and G20 Summit in Toronto
  • The Delegation Boardroom on the 19th floor of 150 Metcalfe Street is officially inaugurated.
  • The CETA negotiations continue.

2011

  • The Delegation of the European Union to Canada becomes part of the new European External Action Service.
  • Canada announces that it is requesting the establishment of a WTO panel to challenge the EU ban on trade in Canadian seal products.
  • The CETA negotiations continue.