What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RECOMMENDATION

5 unchanged paragraphs

to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning an enhanced EU-Canada cooperation in the light of the current geopolitical context, including the threats to Canada’s economic stability and sovereignty

(2025/2168(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part, signed on 30 October 2016 and provisionally applied since 1 April 2017,

– having regard to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada, of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part, which entered into force provisionally on 21 September 2017,

Added:– having regard to the EU-Canada Strategic Partnership on Raw Materials, launched on 21 June 2021,

– having regard to the EU-Canada Digital Partnership and the EU-Canada Green Alliance, launched on 23 November 2023,

Changed:– having regard to the joint statement by the leaders of the European Union and Canada entitled ‘Joint Statement: Enduring‘Enduring Partnership, Ambitious Agenda’, adopted at the EU-Canada Summit held in Brussels on 23 June 2025,

– having regard to the Security and Defence Partnership between the European Union and Canada, signed at the EU-Canada Summit held on 23 June 2025,

Removed:– having regard to its recommendation on the EU’s diplomatic strategy and geopolitical cooperation in the Arctic,

Added:– having regard to the Hague NATO Summit Declaration of 25 June 2025,

Added:– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 26 June 2025,

Added:– having regard to the Canada-led G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance, announced on 17 June 2025 and launched on 31 October 2025,

Added:– having regard to the joint declaration of 12 November 2025 following the fourth Canada-EU joint ministerial committee meeting,

Added:– having regard to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted on 13 September 2007,

Added:– having regard to the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity,

Added:– having regard to its recommendation of 26 November 2025 to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the EU’s diplomatic strategy and geopolitical cooperation in the Arctic,

– having regard to Rule 121 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on International Trade,

Changed:– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A100000/2025),(A10-0035/2026),

Change 1

Changed:A. whereas in a geopolitical context of increased great power rivalry, political volatilityvolatility, fragmented global supply chains, rising protectionism, the weaponisation of trade, vulnerabilities in economic security and accelerating climate change, the EuropeanEU Unionmust deepen cooperation with like-minded partners such as Canada; whereas the EU and Canada have a shared and increased interest in deepening their cooperationcooperation, strengthening their economic ties and upholding the rules-based international order;order, and share common positions on virtually all regions of the world; whereas the EU has consistently remained a reliable and loyal ally of Canada;

Change 2

Changed:B. whereas the EU and Canada are strategic partners united in their conviction that democracy, the rule of law, human rights and multilateral cooperationcooperation, particularly in the fields of security and trade, are beneficial to Canadian and European societies and the international community and should therefore be defended by global alliances of like-minded partners;

Change 3

Removed:C. whereas effective EU-Canada cooperation based on joint leadership and responsibility is critical in tackling global challenges, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, Russia’s hybrid warfare against democratic societies, geopolitical competition in the Arctic, China’s growing assertiveness, increased volatility in US foreign policy, climate change and the situation in the Middle East;

Added:C. whereas the EU-Canada partnership has become central to defending and upholding multilateralism and democracy worldwide in times when these long-standing principles and achievements are under constant and increasing threat; whereas Canada and all EU Member States are party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;

Removed:D. whereas cooperation between the EU and Canada within existing frameworks is essential to preserve and enhance prosperity for both parties; whereas examples of this essential cooperation include trade and economic cooperation, and joint ambitions to address challenges such as the green and digital transition;

Added:D. whereas there has been long-standing cooperation between the EU and Canada in the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as a commitment to working together to stabilise and strengthen the rules-based international trading system, the existence of which is currently under threat, to modernise the WTO and to revitalise its dispute settlement system, including through the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement;

Removed:E. whereas Canada, through its commitment to long-term support for Ukraine and strong leadership during its G7 Presidency, has proven to be a strategic partner to the EU and a reliable NATO ally;

Added:E. whereas effective EU-Canada cooperation based on joint leadership and responsibility is critical in tackling global challenges, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, Russia’s hybrid warfare against democratic societies, geopolitical competition in the Arctic, China’s increasingly assertive actions and economic coercion outside of the internationally established frameworks, increased volatility in US foreign policy, climate change and the situation in the Middle East;

Removed:F. whereas the full potential of existing instruments of EU-Canada cooperation must be actualised and the EU-Canada partnership strongly enhanced in order to stand together against Russia’s war against Ukraine, the revisionism of geopolitical actors, the escalation of hybrid warfare campaigns against democratic societies, climate change, and challenges to the global trade order ;

Added:F. whereas cooperation between the EU and Canada within existing frameworks is essential to preserve and enhance prosperity for both parties; whereas examples of this essential cooperation include trade and economic cooperation, and joint ambitions to address challenges such as the green and digital transitions, artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, security, including military cooperation, counterterrorism and combating organised crime, and infrastructure, energy, health and food security;

Added:G. whereas on 1 December 2025, Canada and the EU successfully concluded negotiations on an agreement for Canada’s participation in the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, thereby building on their Security and Defence Partnership signed at the EU-Canada Summit in June 2025;

Added:H. whereas the impact of CETA is assessed as positive, significantly increasing trade in goods and services between the EU and Canada by around 63 % and EUR 75.6 billion, abolishing 99 % of tariff lines and having a positive direct effect on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in both the EU and Canada, with an increasing number of SMEs engaging in bilateral trade; whereas initial fears of Canadian beef flooding the European market have not been realised, with only around 2 % of the annual quota for beef established under CETA being used in 2023;

Added:I. whereas challenges in CETA enforcement persist in some areas, such as regulatory cooperation, the chapter on trade and sustainable development, and transparent access to complete procurement data;

Added:J. whereas the e-commerce, trade and sustainable development chapters and the provision on the protection of investors in CETA are outdated and do not reflect current Commission policy; whereas the Government of Canada has put forward proposals to enhance the enforceability of CETA’s trade and sustainable development provisions;

Added:K. whereas CETA provides for a framework for the mutual recognition of qualifications in regulated professions such as architecture, accountancy and engineering;

Added:L. whereas indigenous peoples in Canada hold irreplaceable traditional knowledge, act as primary stewards of ecosystems and are already disproportionately affected by climate change, socio-economic marginalisation and environmental degradation; whereas both Canada and the EU have endorsed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including a commitment to consult and cooperate in good faith with indigenous peoples to obtain their free, prior and informed consent before approving any project affecting their lands, territories or resources;

Added:M. whereas Canada, through its commitment to providing long-term support to Ukraine and its strong leadership during its G7 Presidency, has proven to be a strategic partner to the EU and a reliable NATO ally;

Added:N. whereas the full potential of the existing instruments of EU-Canada cooperation must be exploited and the EU-Canada partnership strongly enhanced so that together the EU and Canada can stand firm against Russia’s war against Ukraine, the revisionism of geopolitical actors, the escalation of hybrid warfare campaigns against democratic societies, climate change, and challenges to the global trade order;

1. Recommends that the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy:

The EU-Canada partnership: institutional framework

Change 4

Changed:(a) seize this moment of rupture in the international order and shared challenges as an opportunity to fully harness the potential of the EU-Canada Strategic Partnership and elevate the relationship to a new level in the pursuit of common interests and values in a rapidly changing global environment;

Change 5

Changed:(b) maximise itstheir efforts to swiftly implement the conclusions of the EU-Canada Summit of 23 June 2025, by taking concrete steps to achieve tangible progress in the areas outlined in the Jointjoint Statementstatement and the Security and Defence Partnership;Partnership, including by building on Canada’s participation, as the only non-European country, in the SAFE programme in order to establish the closest possible defence cooperation in a world of rising great power rivalry;

Change 6

Changed:(c) intensify multilevel dialogues, including summits and joint initiatives,initiatives such as trade and investment missions, as well as long-term cooperation formats at working level by assigning dedicated project officers for different work streams, in order to deepen cooperation and find paths to strategic engagement between Canada and the EU in jointly addressaddressing global challenges;challenges such as AI, energy, climate change and cybersecurity, especially at a moment where the rules-based international order is under increasing pressure; ensure that these dialogues involve civil society and expert stakeholders where appropriate;

Change 7

Changed:(d) support a stronger role for parliamentary dialogue in the strategic partnership; notes that Canada enjoys legal observer status with the Council of Europe; calls for anpartnership increaseand inensure cooperationregular atbilateral parliamentary levelexchanges and for the Council of Europe to regularly invite Canada to interparliamentary meetingscooperation ason ankey observer;issues;

Change 8

Removed:Cooperation in foreign and security policy

Added:(e) note that Canada enjoys legal observer status in the Council of Europe; call for an increase in cooperation at parliamentary level and for the Council of Europe to regularly invite Canada to interparliamentary meetings as an observer;

Removed:(e) increase cooperation with Canada in responding to imminent security threats to our societies, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, hybrid attacks and interference in democratic societies on both sides of the Atlantic, China’s assertiveness, increased volatility in US foreign policy, the consequences of climate change and the situation in the Middle East;

Added:Cooperation on foreign and security policy

Removed:(f) set out a roadmap to ensure the full and timely implementation of the commitments made in the Security and Defence Partnership, which provides a coherent political framework for joint efforts in this field under initiatives that complement the parties’ cooperation in NATO, such as Security Action for Europe (SAFE) and ReArm Europe;

Added:(f) increase cooperation with Canada in responding to security threats to our societies, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, hybrid attacks, terrorism and interference in democratic societies on both sides of the Atlantic, China’s assertiveness and economic coercion, US retreat from the rules-based international order, the consequences of climate change, AI, cybersecurity and the situation in the Middle East, all of which threaten the social cohesion of our societies;

Removed:(g) further build on the EU and Canada’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as the shared commitment to providing long-term political, military, financial and humanitarian assistance, inter alia, by jointly working towards forging a strong international alliance in favour of the use of immobilised Russian sovereign assets;

Added:(g) stress the need for joint efforts and a mutual commitment to promote peace, security, stability and resilience through a holistic approach to defence in other regions of shared interest, including the EU’s immediate neighbourhood, particularly the candidate countries and the South Caucasus;

Removed:(h) coordinate sanctions on and the diplomatic isolation of Russia with Canada and other partners;

Added:(h) set out a roadmap to ensure the full and timely implementation of the commitments made in the Security and Defence Partnership, which provides a coherent and comprehensive political framework for dialogue and cooperation across a broad spectrum of peace, security and defence areas, including selected EU security and defence initiatives that complement the parties’ cooperation in NATO, such as the SAFE programme and the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030;

Removed:(i) review and increase cooperation with Canada to combat cyber and hybrid warfare threats and counter destabilising activities and disinformation;

Added:(i) integrate Canada, as far as possible, into the EU’s Defence Technological and Industrial Base with the goal of increasing complementarity and cost-effectiveness for both parties, including integrating military and industrial supply chains and harmonising defence strategies and research in areas such as icebreaker shipbuilding and the operation of harbours; urge EU-Canada cooperation on regulating 5G implementation to comply with strict security standards; encourage the Member States to allow Canadian enterprises to participate in their public procurement processes;

Removed:(j) strengthen EU-Canada coordination to address multifaceted challenges posed by China’s growth and assertiveness;

Added:(j) recognise Canada’s ongoing commitment and military contributions to European security, in particular its leadership of NATO’s Operation Reassurance in Latvia, membership of the Global Coalition Against Daesh, NATO’s Capacity Building Initiatives in the Middle East and the Drone Coalition, and encourage further cooperation in key areas to boost drone-related production in synergy with EU industrial and technological initiatives; call for joint European drone and counter-drone capability training centres in cooperation with Canada; propose a bilateral agreement with Canada for secure co-production and tech transfer of capabilities to counter unmanned aerial systems (CUAS) through joint development and financing;

Removed:(k) work with Canada towards a just and lasting peace in the Middle East through a negotiated two-state solution; step up cooperation to secure the provision of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, and support all diplomatic and operative efforts aimed at enhancing comprehensive regional stability;