Press Release: Successful Summit serves to further cement EU-Canada relations

The EU and Canada confirmed their healthy bilateral relationship on the occasion of the biannual summit meeting held in Ottawa on 16.12.99. The EU delegation, led by European Commission President Romano Prodi, attending his first such meeting and the Finnish President of the European Council, Martti Ahtisaari, also included Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, Finnish Prime Minister Lipponen and Trade Minister Sasi.

Following the Seattle WTO Ministerial, the way forward for multilateral trade negotiations was a key issue addressed by leaders in the talks. A number of important political issues of mutual interest were also discussed with President Prodi reporting on the results of the Helsinki summit notably the important decisions taken with respect to the enlargement of the EU.

The Summit also provided an opportunity to address bilateral trade issues. In this context, the EU and Canada welcomed the success of the Europe Canada Trade Initiative (ECTI) as an effective instrument in facilitating trade and reducing or eliminating trade irritants. The role of business in promoting healthy trade relations was illustrated by a successful meeting of the Canada Europe Round Table (CERT) of business leaders attended by Commissioner Lamy and Canadian Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew.

The EU and Canada were able to agree joint statements underlining their commonality of views on the following important political and economic issues: electronic commerce and the information society; Northern Cooperation; small arms includes the establishment of a joint Working Group on Small Arms to Tackle the Spread and Destabilising Accumulation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

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