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40^th INTER-PARLIAMENTARY MEETING BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT

The delegations of the European Parliament and the Parliament of Canada held the 40th inter-parliamentary meeting on 14 March 2019 in Strasbourg. The following statement was adopted:

Today in Strasbourg, we held the 40th inter-parliamentary meeting between the European Parliament and the Canadian Parliament in Strasbourg, a process which has been going on since 1975. This is the last meeting before elections to both our parliaments.

During this term, our parliaments adopted two important agreements, the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA), which provides a more ambitious framework for deepening the political and parliamentary cooperation between Canada and the EU, and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which is already leading to more trade and prosperity for our people.

During the 38th IPM in 2017, we adopted a Joint Statement to demonstrate our commitment to use more fully the potential of the parliamentary dimension referred to under SPA. Through our joint work over the past two years, we have put our dialogue on an even firmer footing.

In our discussions today on climate change, immigration, trade and foreign policy, we confirmed our conviction that our dialogue can be deepened even further by focussing on specific policy areas of particular concern.

At the end of our parliamentary term, we are confident that EU-Canada relations are in rude health, and we are confident that our cooperation will continue to flourish in the new parliaments.

Vive la diplomatie parlementaire!

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For further information:

Mr. Scott Simms, M.P., Chair
Canada–Europe Parliamentary Association - 613-996-3935

Ms. Josée Thérien, Association Secretary
Canada–Europe Parliamentary Association - 613-947-4066