26 June EU-Canada Summit

Date: 04/07/1996

CANADIAN Prime Minister Jean Chrétien met Italian Premier Romano Prodi and Commission President Jacques Santer for what was scheduled to be a signature ceremony for the EU-Canada action plan and political declaration establishing closer ties between the transatlantic partners. But the leaders failed to sign the action plan and could not release the declaration due to disagreements over a clause concerning extraterritorial legislation. EU officials hinted before the summit that no agreement would be reached, but said they did not want to say so while Chrétien was on his way to Rome. Canadian diplomats said Chrétien was hoping for a deal, but was not shocked when it did not happen. Pointing out that detailed negotiations only began in May, they said it was perhaps always unlikely that a deal would be struck by June.

DESPITE this, Santer, Prodi and Chrétien agreed on many topics, especially on cooperation in combating terrorism. Santer also expressed EU approval of a new Canadian project seeking an international ban on landmines. In addition, they agreed common positions on Bosnia, Russia and the Middle East and declared: “Both sides are committed over the long run to this transatlantic relationship.” The two sides agreed to continue talks at expert level during the Irish presidency and diplomats mentioned a possible summit in December.

ALTHOUGH the Union and Canada both oppose Washington's Helms-Burton legislation punishing foreigners for doing business with Cuba, they could not agree a common position. The EU attacked the principle of any country applying its laws beyond its own borders. Ottawa, however, could not accept a general principle which might be applicable to its own Coastal Fisheries Protection Act, a law allowing Canadian authorities to police international fishing waters. Madrid wants the act repealed. A Spanish diplomat said: “Canada condemns Helms-Burton and then turns around and does the same thing for fishing.”