Prime Minister Carney Meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at G20 Summit

Canada EU partnership moves forward at the G20 Summit with new momentum on trade, clean energy, AI, and defence cooperation.

Johannesburg, South Africa — Prime Minister Mark Carney met with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on the margins of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, advancing Canada-EU cooperation as both partners pursue deeper economic, security, and strategic ties.

The discussion centred on the Canada EU Partnership of the Future, launched earlier this year. Both leaders welcomed progress already underway and aligned on priority areas for the year ahead, including critical minerals, clean energy, AI, and defence collaboration. With Canada pursuing a long-term plan to diversify trade and double non-U.S. exports, the Prime Minister underscored the significant opportunities for both economies to elevate their partnership.

At the G20 Summit, I met with Prime Minister Chính and President @vonderleyen to discuss increasing trade and cooperation between Canada, the Indo-Pacific, and the EU. We already have strong ties, and deeper cooperation means more opportunities for our workers and businesses. pic.twitter.com/dxWXrbgTB8

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) November 22, 2025

A key focus of the meeting was the ongoing negotiations for Canada’s participation in the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, a program aimed at accelerating defence procurement and strengthening European and transatlantic industrial capacity. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to concluding these negotiations in the near term.

Prime Minister Carney and President von der Leyen also discussed current global security challenges, reaffirming their unwavering support for Ukraine and highlighting the importance of continued international coordination as peace discussions evolve.

According to the official PMO readout, the two leaders “agreed to remain in close contact” as work continues across multiple files that directly affect economic and security cooperation between Canada and the European Union.

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