EU leaders to visit Canada as Ottawa eyes access to bloc’s science grants

Brussels and Ottawa hold leaders' summits every two years as part of an agreement that was signed in 2017 alongside a major trade deal.

The top heads of the European Union are expected to visit Canada this year, as officials discuss the possibility of Ottawa joining a major research-funding pact.

“We are expecting the summit still to take place this year,” the EU’s ambassador to Canada, Melita Gabric, said Friday.

Brussels and Ottawa hold leaders’ summits every two years as part of an agreement signed in 2017 alongside a major trade deal. These summit have so far involved the Canadian prime minister and the top two heads of the bloc of 27 countries.

Gabric said detailed planning for the visit has yet to start, but she expects both sides will hammer out details on an agreement that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March.

That agreement called for more collaboration on everything from green vehicles to fighting disinformation. A major focus was the circular economy, such as recycling battery components to help get closer to a net-zero economy.

The summit would likely involve a visit by both von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel to Canada. The Canadian Press has asked Global Affairs Canada about the timing of the summit.

In a roundtable with Ottawa journalists, the European Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, said the summit will help both sides take stock of their support for Ukraine. It could also further talks to have Canada possibly join a more than $100-billion scientific research program called Horizon Europe.

The program has seen countries like New Zealand and Israel sign up for research projects partially funded by the EU, involving themes like the digital industry, health care and climate innovation.