Transatlantic relations take centre stage in Brussels with EU-Canada and EU-US summits

On Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 June, the EU will play host to summits with its two transatlantic partners: Canada and the United States. First, in the evening of 14 June, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel, accompanied by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell will meet with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. The leaders are expected to reaffirm their shared commitment to the EU-Canada strategic partnership. They will discuss the response to the coronavirus pandemic, in particular ensuring global access to vaccines, cooperation towards a sustainable recovery, and efforts to reinforce the World Health Organization including through strengthening pandemic preparedness. The leaders will also discuss cooperation on climate action ahead of the UN COP26 on climate, COP15 on biodiversity and the UN Ocean Conference. Trade, technology and innovation will also be on the agenda, with particular emphasis on reaping the full benefits of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), reform of the World Trade Organization, and cooperation in the digital transition, research, space and critical raw materials. The leaders will also discuss key foreign policy issues. On Tuesday 15 June at 9:30 (CEST), President von der Leyen, President Michel and Prime Minister Trudeau will hold a joint press conference, which will be broadcast live on EbS. Later that day, on 15 June, President von der Leyen and President Michel, joined by Executive Vice-Presidents Margrethe Vestager and Valdis Dombrovskis and High Representative/Vice-President Borrell, will receive the President of the United States, Joe Biden for the first EU-US summit under the new leaderships. In light of the European Commission and High Representative’s proposal for a new EU-US agenda for global change, the leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of issues including the coronavirus response and sustainable recovery and climate action. They will also review EU-US trade and investment relations, both on the bilateral level and multilaterally within the World Trade Organization, as well as cooperation on technology and the digital transition. Leaders will also address a range of foreign and security policy challenges and opportunities, including relations with China and Russia, and the need to promote democracy and human rights worldwide. Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis will meet in the context of the summit with the US Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, to further deepen transatlantic trade ties and make progress on key files of common interest. The two will hold a press point at c. 15:00 (CEST) on Tuesday 15, live on EbS. More information is available in dedicated factsheets on EU-Canada and EU-US relations, and on the websites of the EU Delegation to Canada and of the EU Delegation to the United States.