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European Council
PRESS
EN
The President
REMARKS
EUCO 190/14
PRESSE 489
PR PCE 166
Toronto, 26 September 2014
Remarks by the President of the European Council
Herman Van Rompuy
to the business event in Toronto
It is a great pleasure to be here today with you in Toronto. Prime Minister Harper, President
Barroso and I have just arrived from Ottawa where we held our EU-Canada summit. Together we
marked the finalisation of the negotiations on our Strategic Partnership Agreement and an
ambitious economic and trade agreement, "CETA". This is a new milestone in EU-Canada
relations. For Europe in particular, CETA is one of the most ambitious agreements we have ever
negotiated, and it will be our first trade agreement with a leading industrialised country.
Our political relationship is as strong as ever, and the Strategic Partnership Agreement that we
initialed earlier this month will only reinforce this, with broader dialogue and cooperation on issues
ranging from promoting international peace and security, to education and research, sustainable
development and justice. This kind of agreement can only be envisaged among countries and
groups of countries that share not only history but also fundamental values.
They are good for societies on both sides, and they are good for business. Which is why I am glad
to have a chance to address you during this visit, all the more as my mandate is coming to an end.
It is my last visit to Canada in this function, but certainly not the last in other capacities!
L'Union Européenne est une économie sociale de marché; sa prospérité repose sur l'intégration
économique entre ses 28 Etats membres, sur son grand marché intérieur de plus de 500 millions
de consommateurs. En tant que chefs d'entreprises, vous savez mieux que quiconque le rôle
primordial que joue la libéralisation des échanges pour la prospérité.
L'Union européenne s'est construite sur son marché commun. -Le commerce a conduit par la
suite à plus d'intégration dans d'autres domaines. Le commerce, c'est la clé de la croissance, de la
création d'emploi et du bien être. Protectionnisme est un mot tabou tant à l’intérieur, comme à
l’extérieur de l’Union, en particulier dans cette période de difficultés économiques.
Notre futur accord de libre échange offrira aux entreprises canadiennes et européennes de
nouvelles opportunités. C'est son objectif. Et évidemment ce sera votre rôle, en tant que chefs
d'entreprises, de transformer ces nouvelles opportunités en réalités, une fois l'accord ratifié. Des
deux côtés de l'Atlantique nous nous sommes engagés à procéder à cette ratification de l'accord
(conformément à nos procédures respectives bien sûr) au plus vite.
Dirk De Backer - Spokesperson of the President - T +32 (0)2 281 9768 - M +32 (0)497 59 99 19
Preben Aamann - Deputy Spokesperson of the President - T +32 (0)2 281 2060 - M +32 (0)476 85 05 43
[email protected] - www.european-council.europa.eu/the-president
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Trade is particularly important for growth after the economic and financial crisis that has shaken us
all, but Europe more particularly. Our Economic and Monetary Union around the euro underwent
what I have often described as an 'existential crisis'. But today, as the end of my mandate
approaches, I am happy (and relieved!) to tell you that this threat has been overcome.
Right now the focus is on rekindling growth, continuing ambitious structural reforms in all our
economies, and on investing for the future. Structural growth isn't yet where we want it to be.
Violent tensions between Ukraine and Russia, to our immediate East, haven't helped growth on the
short term, but we are steadfast and we will overcome also these difficulties.
Importantly, over the past five years, we have driven forward a thorough process of institutional
changes. We have many more prevention tools at hand. We made huge progress in becoming a
fiscal and economic union. And from November, our new "Banking Union" will be up and running.
I won't go into further detail, but let me assure you of this: Europe is moving forward, and it is open
and happy to strengthen its relationship with strategic partners like Canada. As I said, we share a
common history. We share common values and will now further intertwine our interests. This is all
the more important in the dangerous world we live.
Et pour conclure en Français, nous partageons aussi des langues communes ! Merci de votre
attention. Vive le Canada, Vive l'Union européenne.
EUCO 190/14
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