Canada seeking new bridges with Europe

Paul Dubois, Canadian assistant deputy minister for Europe in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, leaves Malta today after a day's working visit during which he met government ministers and officials.

Mr Dubois led a government delegation to the 10 countries set to join the European Union next May. Malta was the last country he visited before his return to Canada.

"There are many opportunities ahead as we explore the building of new bridges between modern Canada and the changing face of Europe," Mr Dubois said.

Canada is committed to cooperating closely with EU accession countries in order to achieve common goals in a number of areas, from business and international security, to trade and culture.

Canada's economic and political relationship with the EU was strong and long-standing: in 1976, Canada became the very first non-European nation to conclude an economic cooperation agreement with what was then the European Economic Community (EEC).

The Canada-EU relationship has been strengthened by a host of other agreements in areas such as education, Customs, competition and science and technology.

The European Union represents Canada's second most important trading partner with the value of annual two-way trade in goods and services amounting to over $78 billion.

Canada's direct investment in the EU has grown substantially over the past decade reaching over $100 billion and surpassing EU investment in Canada.

Mr Dubois said Canada strongly supported EU enlargement and believed this could only encourage peace, stability and prosperity.

There was plenty of room for improvement in the good relations that existed between Malta and Canada and talks in Malta dealt with a host of issues, ranging from youth and student exchanges to cooperation in issues such as e-government and sharing knowledge in immigration laws.

Mr Dubois said Canada hoped to start negotiating a trade and investment enhancement agreement with the EU in 2004, aimed at having non-tariff barriers to trade, and Malta, which will have a voice in the EU, can help achieve this, he said.