OTTAWA – European Union Ambassador Geneviève Tuts and 18 Heads of Mission of European Union Member States in Canada are embarking today on a two-day official visit to Winnipeg, Manitoba, as part of a Team Europe mission to the Canadian Prairies and the first in a series of joint outreach activities planned for 2025.

The European delegation is comprised of the Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

“At a time when the rules-based international order is continuously challenged, forging closer ties with our friends and reliable partners has become more imperative than ever. We remain committed to working together with Canada and the Canadian provinces and territories to effectively address the increasingly challenging global landscape,” said Ambassador Tuts.

“The EU and its Member States also remain fully committed to our free trade agreement with Canada, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which helps solidify supply chains in such sectors as critical raw materials, clean energy, biotech and digital. We want to stress the importance of CETA and build on the success of our trade relations,” Ambassador Tuts continued.

During their visit, the EU Heads of Mission will meet with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and participate in ministerial roundtables on trade and investment, clean energy, critical raw materials, as well as research and innovation opportunities under the Horizon Europe programme.

While in Winnipeg, the EU Heads of Mission will also have the opportunity to exchange views with the Business Council of Manitoba and the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, as well as tour the Canadian NORAD Headquarters and CentrePort Canada - a key hub for international trade. The EU Heads of Mission will also meet with representatives of their communities in Manitoba.

This joint visit highlights the importance of Canadian provinces and territories in EU-Canada relations, as well as the close collaboration between the European Union and its Member States in external relations, in the true spirit of Team Europe.

About the Delegation of the European Union to Canada

Established in 1976, the European Union Delegation to Canada is a fully-fledged diplomatic mission and, as such, the natural contact point in Canada between the EU and the Canadian authorities. It also has a strong public diplomacy mandate designed to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the European Union as well as EU-Canada relations.