At the 29–30 October 2026 EU–Canada Summit in Montreal, Quebec, Prime Minister Mark Carney, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa launched the Alliance for the Future. The EU and Canada will form its core, focusing on critical minerals, resilient supply chains and defence; other countries may join. The stated aims include protecting sovereignty and reducing reliance on US trade and defence amid concerns over economic and military coercion.
Minerals, defence and proposed association
Von der Leyen proposed associate-member status for Canada in September. Germany, France and Italy objected that EU law contains no such status. At the summit, the leaders continued using the term, while a draft statement described closer association short of full EU membership.
EU imports of Canadian critical raw materials—including lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite—increased by 62% last year to €3.3 billion (C$5.18 billion). Canada is the only non-European participant in the €150-billion SAFE defence procurement programme, giving Canadian firms preferential access to joint European military purchases.
Wider cooperation
Cooperation also covers digital trade, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, energy, space and youth exchanges through Erasmus+. A digital trade agreement and Canadian access to European supercomputing infrastructure were expected to be finalised on 30 October. The expected joint statement was to address predictable trade, Arctic cooperation, cyberattacks and continued support for Ukraine.
Important Facts for Exams
- Nationally variable designation: Critical raw-material lists and the criteria for classifying materials as critical vary between countries and can change over time.
- EU strategic subset: The EU Critical Raw Materials Act identifies 34 critical raw materials, of which 17 are classed as strategic.
- Joint-procurement conditions: SAFE procurement projects must involve several countries, including at least one EU member state, and weapons systems must contain at least 65% European components.
