At the 17th Summit between the European Union and Canada held today in Montreal, the EU and Canada reaffirmed their determination to jointly address global challenges in a manner that strengthens the rules based international order, benefits citizens, and protects the planet by delivering on climate change and ocean commitments. Leaders expressed their resolve for rapid and concerted action to address the challenges facing the multilateral trading system.

“The EU and Canada believe that global issues require multilateral solutions. Together we are sending a clear message that international cooperation is beneficial to all,” said the European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström. “Nowhere is this more apparent than in our trade relationship. Almost two years after it entered into force, CETA is providing concrete proof of the mutual benefits of open trade. Exports on both sides are up, and our businesses and citizens are already seeing the benefits.”

The European Union was represented by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, with the participation of Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström. Canada was represented by its Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.

The European Union and Canada have agreed a Joint Summit Declaration.

Three years after the signature of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) the EU and Canada emphasised the progress they have made since.

Thanks to the EU-Canada trade agreement, which is under provisional application since September 2017, the EU-Canada trade relations keep becoming stronger. EU exports to Canada increased overall by 15% in 2018 compared to the previous 3-year average, strengthening even more the EU’s positive trade balance. Most significant export growth has been registered in particular for industrial products such as combustion engines (over 100%), tramway locomotives and parts (+87%) furniture (+21%) and perfumes and cosmetics (+14%). The same trends were registered for several agricultural products, including citrus fruit (+78%), cheese (+33%), pasta (+16%), wine (+10%) and chocolate (+9%).

The Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) led to a further strengthening of political dialogue and cooperation between the European Union and Canada across a wide range of areas, from tackling climate change and innovation to working together in the fields of development cooperation and consular protection. The EU and Canada agreed to advance bilateral cooperation digital policy focussing on artificial intelligence, quantum computing and protecting democratic values in a digital world.

At the summit, the European Union and Canada signed an ocean partnership agreement. Ocean governance is a shared challenge and responsibility, and only international cooperation can ensure the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, their resources and ecosystems. The agreement includes clear commitments to combatting the negative effects of illegal, unreported and unregulated fisheries, marine pollution and climate change.  It will also help to facilitate the sustainable development of marine and maritime sectors and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Both sides also welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on a new EU-Canada Passenger Names Record (PNR) agreement, pending its finalisation. They acknowledged the vital role of this agreement in enhancing security while ensuring privacy and the protection of personal data.

The leaders agreed to advance consultation and coordination on foreign policy issues. The Joint Statement demonstrates the European Union and Canada’s consistent and firm collaboration regarding, among other examples, Ukraine, Iran, China, Syria and Venezuela. The EU and Canada will expand practical cooperation to support democracy based on a new arrangement that will facilitate Canada’s participation in EU Election Observation Missions.

The Summit took stock of the successful cooperation between EU and Canada in the framework of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy and welcomed Canadian deployments to EU civilian missions in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine), the West Bank (EUPOL COPPS), Mali (EUCAP Sahel Mali) and Iraq (EUAM Iraq).

For More Information

17^th EU-Canada Summit website

Joint Declaration of the 17^th EU-Canada Summit

EU-Canada relations factsheet

European Union Delegation to Canada website

EU-Canada trade relations website

18 July 2019

An organised crime group involved in extended online fraud and money laundering in several European countries was targeted by the Irish and Finnish national authorities with Eurojust’s support. A coordinated investigative and prosecutorial strategy was agreed at Eurojust, which enabled the speedy execution of mutual legal assistance requests between the countries concerned to advance their investigations, as well as the collection and exchange of evidence to ensure solid prosecution. 3 suspects were convicted in Finland for aggravated money laundering and forgery, with sentences of between 1 year and 2 years and 3 months. Another 9 suspects were arrested in Ireland. Five people were charged, one of whom pleaded guilty. The remaining four were remanded in custody pending trial. The estimated amount of the illegal proceeds laundered by the criminal group exceeds €3 million.

The members of the organised crime group (OCG) used fabricated online platforms to offer to unknowing customers non-existent goods, including luxury cars, tractors, expensive jewellery and watches, or services, such as accommodation. To receive the online payments from the victims, the criminals created numerous bank accounts in Ireland and Finland, using forged documentation, inter alia identity cards, passports, working permits, rental contracts and utility bills. When the transactions were concluded, the suspects transferred the payments to other bank accounts and withdrew the money from cashpoints in various European countries.

Following several searches by the Garda Síochána (Ireland’s National Police Service) and the Finnish Border Guard and Police in both countries, a large number of items were seized, including fake documentation, equipment for document forgery, laptops and cash. Europol assisted the national authorities in the cross-checking of data and identification of the victims of the fraud.

The OCG members are suspected of participation in a criminal organisation, fraud, money laundering, forgery of documents and registration offences. The national investigations are ongoing.

18 July 2019

An organised crime group involved in extended online fraud and money laundering in several European countries was targeted by the Irish and Finnish national authorities with Eurojust’s support. A coordinated investigative and prosecutorial strategy was agreed at Eurojust, which enabled the speedy execution of mutual legal assistance requests between the countries concerned to advance their investigations, as well as the collection and exchange of evidence to ensure solid prosecution. 3 suspects were convicted in Finland for aggravated money laundering and forgery, with sentences of between 1 year and 2 years and 3 months. Another 9 suspects were arrested in Ireland. Five people were charged, one of whom pleaded guilty. The remaining four were remanded in custody pending trial. The estimated amount of the illegal proceeds laundered by the criminal group exceeds €3 million.

The members of the organised crime group (OCG) used fabricated online platforms to offer to unknowing customers non-existent goods, including luxury cars, tractors, expensive jewellery and watches, or services, such as accommodation. To receive the online payments from the victims, the criminals created numerous bank accounts in Ireland and Finland, using forged documentation, inter alia identity cards, passports, working permits, rental contracts and utility bills. When the transactions were concluded, the suspects transferred the payments to other bank accounts and withdrew the money from cashpoints in various European countries.

Following several searches by the Garda Síochána (Ireland’s National Police Service) and the Finnish Border Guard and Police in both countries, a large number of items were seized, including fake documentation, equipment for document forgery, laptops and cash. Europol assisted the national authorities in the cross-checking of data and identification of the victims of the fraud.

The OCG members are suspected of participation in a criminal organisation, fraud, money laundering, forgery of documents and registration offences. The national investigations are ongoing.

The 18 July plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels played host to PR 35/2019, Finland’s Minister of Social Affairs and Health, who presented the programme of the Finnish EU presidency. This includes a special focus on sustainability and the wellbeing of citizens. Minister Pekonen also listed enhancing the rule of law and EU values among its other priorities. 

Introducing Aino-Kaisa Pekonen’s speech, EESC president Luca Jahier spoke of the main challenges the Finnish EU presidency would have to address by the end of the year, including the growth of populism, threats to the rule of law, climate change and global issues. The implementation of Agenda 2030, said Jahier, will need a holistic approach that requires economic and social challenges to be addressed together.

Minister Pekonen began her address by acknowledging the difficult challenges Europe would have to face in the near future and admitting that her country’s presidency would be happening at an interesting point in time, with a number of issues that must be addressed. With this in mind, she announced: Finland wants to have an impact on the EU’s future and this future should be socially, economically and ecologically sustainable.

The EU’s global leadership in climate action was therefore a key priority for Finland’s presidency. To this end, it expected to reach an agreement on the main elements of a long-term plan committing the EU to climate neutrality by the end of 2019, as requested by the European Council.

The Finnish presidency’s priorities mean that all measures designed to fight climate change have to be socially sustainable. In the words of Minister Pekonen: One of the main objectives of the European Union is to promote the wellbeing of its citizens. As the general view is that the goal of economic growth has been more prominent, this ultimate goal sometimes seems forgotten, but these two objectives do not rule each other out and are mutually reinforcing.

Explaining this positive interaction, Aino-Kaisa Pekonen said that economic growth improved people’s wellbeing; in turn, their health, ability to function and inclusion increase economic growth and stability. When this link between wellbeing and economy is understood in decision-making, it becomes easier to start investing in people’s wellbeing and health.

She continued: The European social model is based on the principle that no one is left behind and that people feel safe and cared for. The Economy of Wellbeing underlines the fact that this is not only vital from a human perspective, but is also our comparative advantage amid global competition.

As defined by the Finnish presidency’s priorities, the Economy of Wellbeing means that economic growth is pursued in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The EU must champion multilateralism and take the lead in solving global issues such as climate change, insisted the minister.

To achieve its goals, the Finnish presidency will strengthen dialogue not only with other global actors, but also within the EU with other institutions and partners, focusing particularly on civil society. Dialogue with social partners is one of the priorities of the Finnish presidency, Minister Pekonen concluded. The EESC plays a key role and we are pleased that it is drafting key opinions that are in line with our proposals.

EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel is paying his first official visit to Montenegro this week where he will meet high-level dignitaries working in the drugs field. Over two days (17–18 July), an EMCDDA delegation will meet: 

• Montenegrin Minister of Health, Dr Kenan Hrapović;
• Head of the EU Delegation in Montenegro, Ambassador Aivo Orav; and 
• representatives of the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of the Interior, the National Statistical Office and the Institute for Public Health. 

After 10 years of technical cooperation with Montenegro — in the framework of EU-funded projects (IPA instrument of pre-accession) — the aim of the visit is to strengthen the agency’s links to the country in view of its possible accession to the EU.

In 2018, the EMCDDA undertook an assessment of the National Drugs Observatory (NDO) and the National Early Warning System (NEWS), making a series of recommendations and identifying possible activities to be developed in future. Taking place one year after the assessment, this visit provides an opportunity to exchange views on the state of cooperation between Montenegro and the agency and to consider progress made to date (e.g. NDO, NEWS, national information system).

Close attention will also be paid to needs analysis and planning in the context of 
Pre-Accession Assistance provided by the EMCDDA IPA-7 project, which kicked off earlier this month. In this framework, the visit will explore the current state of data collection on the drug situation in Montenegro and the possibilities for increased cooperation and capacity building.

Reflecting the EMCDDA’s twin objective of working for a healthier and more secure Europe, the visit will involve contributions from both public health and law enforcement officials, focusing on the Montenegrin drug market, drug seizures and the monitoring of new psychoactive substances.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. This applies to all mentions of Kosovo in this document.