We, the leaders of Canada and the European Union (EU), met today in Niagara-on-the-Lake to build on our existing and excellent cooperation and enhance our partnership.

Our partnership is strong. Ours is a long-standing, healthy and dynamic relationship founded on the common values of political pluralism, democracy, rule of law, human rights and gender equality, and shared interests such as encouraging the development of effective multilateral institutions and a free trading, rules-based global economy.

We are also encouraged by the renewed spirit of cooperation that has re-energized transatlantic relations and fostered a positive, pragmatic working climate, enabling all members of the transatlantic community to set aside their differences and consult productively on a number of difficult issues.
 

Canada and the EU both place great importance on this relationship. We have each recognized the other as a strategic partner in recent statements – Canada’s International Policy Statement of April 2005 and the EU’s European Security Strategy of December 2003. It is also manifest in the Partnership Agenda we endorsed at our last Summit in March 2004.

We welcome the conclusion of our negotiations on an Agreement on the Processing of Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record (API/PNR). The Agreement offers a concrete example of our shared commitment to enhancing security while protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms and we look forward to obtaining formal approval of this Agreement in coming months.

We have completed the first round of formal negotiations on a Trade & Investment Enhancement Agreement (TIEA) to expand our trade and investment with one another. The Agreement is designed to focus on the main non-tariff related challenges and opportunities of the Canada-EU relationship and will respond to the needs of our respective business communities by addressing priorities they have identified, including the growing importance of regulatory cooperation and investment, services, government procurement, intellectual property rights and trade facilitation. We look forward to the next round of negotiations in early fall 2005.

We will work to renew, reinforce and broaden the scope of the current Agreement Renewing a Cooperation Program in Higher Education and Training, notably through the addition of cooperation in the field of youth, to strengthen academic cooperation and transatlantic exchange between our citizens.

We re-affirm our commitment to working closely together on the following issues facing the international community:
 

Effective Multilateralism

A primary focus of the wide-ranging and growing Canada-EU agenda of cooperation on global issues is the promotion of a reinforced and effective multilateralism which puts results ahead of process.

In this context, we welcome the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations "In Larger Freedom" and its emphasis on the fact that development, security and human rights are interdependent. We express our commitment to seeing as many as possible of the proposals contained in this document enshrined in a comprehensive set of decisions by world leaders at the United Nations Summit in September 2005. We will work together to achieve this goal.

We strongly endorse, amongst other priorities, the recommendation of the United Nations Secretary General that leaders embrace the "responsibility to protect" as a basis for collective action against genocide, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. We look forward to seeing these principles reflected in the decisions of the UN Security Council.

We emphasize that the state bears the primary responsibility for protecting civilians, but where the state is unable or unwilling to provide such protection, or where the state is itself the perpetrator, the international community has a responsibility to act, based on generally recognized criteria.

We further support the Secretary-General’s recommendation that the Security Council adopt a resolution setting principles to guide its future decisions regarding the use of force.

We strongly support the creation of a Peace Building Commission, which fills a clear gap in the UN system, and can bring significant progress in the context of the management of post-conflict situations and prevention of resurgence of conflict.

We strongly support the strengthening of the UN human rights mechanisms, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the treaty bodies, and the creation of an effective, legitimate and credible Human Rights Council.

We are also supportive of the proposal to enhance efforts regarding the financing of development.
 

International Security and Crisis Management

A convergence in our perceptions of the pre-eminent challenges to international security, including terrorism, the threat posed by the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), failed and failing states, gross and large-scale violations of human rights, organized crime and poverty, together with our shared support for effective multilateralism and the primary responsibility of the UN for the maintenance of international peace and security, has prompted Canada and the EU to cooperate extensively in managing both global threats and regional crises.

In the context of our joint efforts to counter the global threat of terrorism, we are united in our support for UN activities in this field. We call on all UN member states to ratify the existing conventions on terrorism and hope for conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism as soon as possible. The EU and Canada will work together to provide counter-terrorism capacity building assistance (including training, technical and legal assistance) to other states that require resources and expertise to prevent and respond to terrorist activity.

Regional Issues

i) Sudan/Darfur

We reaffirmed our commitment to supporting the comprehensive peace agreement ending the southern civil war, as well as the post-Naivasha agenda with a view to promoting a democratic and inclusive solution. On Darfur, we reiterated our support for the African Union (AU) led peace talks in Abuja. We underlined our strong commitment to assist the AU’s ongoing efforts to expand AMIS over the coming months through significant new contributions in addition to our ongoing efforts

We remain committed to working together to end the violence in Darfur, to supporting sustainable peace efforts in the South, and to bringing about the just and lasting peace we believe is essential to resolving the political conflicts that have caused so much suffering throughout Sudan.

We continue to urge all parties to the Darfur conflict to negotiate a peaceful settlement and to refrain from the violations of human rights and international humanitarian law that continue to endanger civilians, including the persistent acts of sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated against women and girls. We are deeply concerned by the ongoing harassment of humanitarian organizations. We further urge all the Sudanese parties to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in accordance with UNSCR 1593.

ii) Afghanistan

While recent progress has been encouraging, Canada and the EU recognize that the challenges confronting Afghanistan remain considerable and that reconstruction demands the international community’s sustained and full engagement. In our discussions today, we agreed on the need to support upcoming parliamentary and provincial elections, and welcomed the EU decision to deploy an Election Observation Mission. We welcomed the recent announcement that a Canadian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) will be deployed to the southern city of Kandahar in August 2005. This will complement the PRTs led by EU Member States in the North and West of Afghanistan.

We agreed that we need to work together to support Afghan efforts to establish post-election benchmarks which move beyond initial stabilization and electoral issues to incorporate longer-term development areas such as private sector development, institution building, development of infrastructures and social policies with a strong emphasis on the accelerated integration of refugees and internally-displaced persons. We pledged to cooperate in our efforts to extend the authority of the Afghan central government beyond Kabul, pursue counter-narcotics, support transitional justice and the strengthening of the rule of law and promote and protect human rights, including women’s rights, in Afghanistan.

iii) Middle East Peace Process

Canada and the EU are committed to helping the parties take advantage of current opportunities to achieve a fair, lasting and negotiated peace leading to a two-state solution. We look forward to a full, complete and coordinated Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the Northern West Bank in a manner consistent with the Road Map. We urge the parties to respect their commitments and to refrain from unilateral actions that could prejudge final status issues. We welcome and encourage President Abbas’ steps to prevent violence and implement security reforms. While remaining concerned by the lack of economic opportunity for Palestinians, we welcome and support the mission of Quartet Special Envoy Wolfensohn. Canada and the EU are working together to help build the capacity of the Palestinian Authority to promote security, good governance and economic development in the West Bank and Gaza, including private sector development and job creation. Canadian participation in the successful EU Election Observation Mission to observe the Palestinian Presidential elections in January is one example.

iv) Lebanon

Canada and the EU note Syria’s recent withdrawal of its troops from Lebanon and the impending return of the United Nations verification team to the country. We fully support the work of the UN Secretary General and urge all parties to fully implement UNSCR 1559. We jointly support the independent commission of inquiry in its efforts to identify those responsible for the murder of former Prime Minister Hariri so that they may be brought to justice. We condemn the continuation of political assassinations in Lebanon and are deeply concerned about their politically destabilizing impact. We deplore actions at the Israeli-Lebanese border which risk escalating the violence in the region. We are supporting the ongoing Lebanese parliamentary elections where Canadian observers have joined the EU Observation Mission.

v) Iran

Canada and the EU, together with other partners continue to work very closely on measures to address the proliferation threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program. We support the EU’s efforts to negotiate with Iran a long-term arrangement, which will provide objective guarantees that Iran’s nuclear programme is for exclusively peaceful purposes. We underline the importance of continued suspension by Iran of all uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities as agreed in the Paris agreement. Canada and the EU also reiterate the necessity that Iran cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and calls on Iran to ratify the Additional Protocol of the IAEA.

Canada and the EU call on Iran to promote the rule of law and improve respect for human rights, particularly with regard to democracy, freedom of expression and the media, judicial independence and the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities. We share concerns about arbitrary detention and the treatment of prisoners.

vi) Iraq

The EU and Canada look forward to the International Conference on Iraq which will take place in Brussels on June 21-22 and which will provide a forum for the Iraqi Transitional Government to present its priorities, vision and strategies for the transition period in the three fields outlined in UNSCR 1546: the political process, economic challenges and reconstruction, issues related to the rule of law and public order. We welcome this opportunity for the international community to express its support for the Iraqi Transitional Government and its institutions.

We are confident that the Brussels conference will generate positive momentum for the crucial months ahead, as Iraq moves forward with the drafting of a constitution and election of a constitutional government. Reconstruction is another essential element of a stable and democratic Iraq. Both the EU and Canada agree on the need to make the multilateral reconstruction channels more effective, to enhance donor coordination, to bring a strong Iraqi voice to bear on determining reconstruction priorities, and to encourage a broader base of contributions. The Brussels conference as well as the forthcoming meeting of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq will be important opportunities to promote these principles.

vii) Haiti

Canada, the EU and Member States are making important contributions in aid, including through joint projects, and police and military personnel to the UN mission to help re-establish security and stability and foster long-term reform and reconstruction in Haiti. We are concerned, however, by the deteriorating security situation on the ground, and believe that it is imperative that the UN security presence be strengthened, particularly in this critical period leading up to the elections this fall. We agreed today that we are committed to remaining involved in Haiti over the long term and are determined to help Haiti hold elections in the fall as planned and establish strong democratic governance. It is however essential that the disbursement of pledges made by members of the international community at the July 2004 Washington conference be made in a timely manner.

viii) Burma/Myanmar

With this day marking the 60^th birthday of Burma’s pre-eminent champion of democracy and Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Canada and the EU call for her immediate release, together with all political prisoners in Burma/Myanmar. We also call on the government to enter into a genuine dialogue with all parties concerned, in particular the National League for Democracy and ethnic representatives, with the aim of reaching a lasting political solution to the situation in Burma/Myanmar. We express strong concern about the continued lack of genuine progress toward respect for human rights in Burma/Myanmar.

Climate Change and the Management of the Global Commons

Canada and the EU are committed to better management and protection of the Global Commons.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world. We share a joint commitment to improving our understanding of climate change science, to promoting energy efficiency and the development and deployment of clean and renewable energy technologies and resources, and to taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Canada and the EU welcome the priority to be accorded to climate change at the upcoming G8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland.

Today, we reaffirmed our commitment to meeting our obligations under the Kyoto Protocol during the period 2008 – 2012 and also agreed to intensify our discussions on the shape of the international climate change regime beyond 2012. In this context, we emphasized the importance of the United Nations Climate Change Conference: Montreal 2005 in moving forward this international process. We will work together during Canada’s Presidency of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties to make progress on building an international consensus for the future climate change regime.

Certain fish stocks continue to decline worldwide and we agree that all countries must commit fully to the sustainable use of fisheries resources if we are to make real progress on this issue and reverse this trend. Canada and the EU will continue to ensure that all fishing vessels effectively respect and comply with conservation measures adopted by regional fisheries management organizations. Canada and the EU will continue their productive cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO).

We reiterated the commitments made in the St. John’s Declaration that emerged from the recent Ministerial Round Table held during the conference on International Fisheries Governance hosted by Canada in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador from 1-5 May 2005.
 

Northern Dimension

Canada and the EU recall our shared interests and concerns in the North, as expressed in our Joint Statement on Northern Co-operation of 1999 and our Partnership Agenda of 2004. We have already co-operated in the Arctic on sustainable development and environmental protection. We agreed today that we also need to work closely on Northern issues with the Russian Federation, making full use of the existing structures for dialogue in this field.
 

Transatlantic Economic Cooperation

Canada and the EU are key trading and investment partners driven by a shared belief that the liberalization of trade and investment plays a major role in stimulating global growth and prosperity.

Consistent with this belief is our mutual commitment to bringing the WTO Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations to a successful conclusion. We pledged today to work diligently on a fair and market-oriented trading system for agriculture through a programme of fundamental reform, on delivering real market access improvements in non-agricultural trade and on services, on developing clearer, more predictable trade remedy disciplines and on the intensification of efforts on trade facilitation. We agreed on the need to make concrete progress on the development dimension. We agreed that we are concerned with the pace of negotiations in Geneva and strongly support high-level engagement to accelerate the momentum of discussions and to ensure the success of the 6^th Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December 2005.

We are exploring a number of avenues for enhancing our bilateral economic partnership beyond our ongoing negotiations of a Trade and Investment Enhancement Agreement (TIEA). The inaugural meeting of the Canada-EC Regulatory Cooperation Committee marked the first step toward implementation of the Framework on Regulatory Cooperation adopted in December 2004. The Framework encourages greater dialogue, transparency, and information exchange to enhance regulatory cooperation, facilitate trade and investment, and promote competitiveness and innovation.

Canadian and EC regulators in many areas have already established good working relationships. The recognition of equivalencies under the Canada-EC Veterinary Agreement reached earlier this spring, for example, demonstrates the potential value of such cooperation. This new Framework will encourage successful cooperation in other areas of mutual interest.

Canada and the EU are also committed to an early completion of negotiations on the Canada-EC Agreement on Civil Aviation Safety. This agreement will support our rapidly growing trade and business relationship in aeronautical equipment, products and services.

The EU side informed the Canadian side of the need to bring existing bilateral air services agreements between EU Member States and Canada into line with Community legislation through the negotiation of a "horizontal" agreement as a first step towards enhancing aviation relations between both sides.

We recalled that measures which facilitate travel, in particular for business and tourism purposes, are important drivers for the economy, while bearing in mind border security requirements. The EU and Canada will engage in a dialogue on visa-exempt travel for citizens between all EU Member States and Canada for short term stays. The progress of the dialogue will be reported by the time of the next Summit.