Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Israel-Hamas, Ukraine wars to feature prominently in EU-Canada Summit beginning today

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Nov, 2023 11:05 AM
  • Israel-Hamas, Ukraine wars to feature prominently in EU-Canada Summit beginning today

The top two heads of the European Union are set to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau beginning on Thursday in Newfoundland and Labrador's capital city of St. John's.

Their meeting comes as wars rage in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine, and EU officials say both are likely to feature prominently in the two days of meetings between Trudeau, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Trade, climate, security and energy are also on the agenda, as Atlantic Canada angles to become a major supplier of hydrogen fuel to European markets, particularly Germany.

Sven Scholtysik, a research director with energy non-profit Net Zero Atlantic, said he'll be watching for European countries to reaffirm their commitment with Canada to build a thriving hydrogen energy partnership. 

"Atlantic Canada and the EU are not far, and we can act for each other as long-term strategic partners in the energy system transition," Scholtysik said in an interview on Wednesday, adding that he was pleased to see the summit listed increasing transatlantic hydrogen trade as a point of discussion.

The EU is also looking to discuss a possible Canadian contribution to its unarmed mission in Armenia, where civilian monitors are keeping tabs on security along the country's border with Azerbaijan.

The discussions set to begin Thursday evening in St. John's mark the 19th EU-Canada Summit. 

The meetings between the Canadian prime minister and the top two heads of the bloc of 27 countries are held every two years, and the last summit took place in Brussels in 2021.

European officials offered a briefing about this year's summit to journalists on Wednesday, on the condition that they not be named. 

They said it was Trudeau's decision to hold this year's meetings in Canada's easternmost province, though they did not say why he chose St. John's, a city of 110,000 people.

Newfoundland and Labrador's sealing industry has been hit hard by European bans on seal products. Officials said that may come up in trade discussions, but it was not considered a major issue.

Carbon pricing will likely come up in discussions about establishing a "green alliance" between Canada and the EU, officials said, adding that both governments have been committed to expanding the global coverage of carbon pricing.

Europe has applauded Ottawa's carbon pricing system, though Trudeau has been under fire in Canada for exempting home-heating oil from the carbon-pricing scheme for three years.

The summit is an opportunity for the EU and Canada to once again signal their ongoing support for Ukraine, as the country battles an ongoing invasion by Russian forces, officials said, adding that EU leaders are eager to discuss peace, accountability and how to best support Ukraine as it rebuilds.

Canada and the EU have long supported a two-state solution in the Middle East that would result in a sovereign Palestinian state existing alongside Israel. Officials said that support is likely to be a feature of the summit's joint statement, which is expected at the end of the event's discussions on Friday.

Trudeau signed a hydrogen agreement with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz last year in the western Newfoundland town of Stephenville, one of several areas in Atlantic Canada where companies are vying to build massive wind-powered hydrogen and ammonia plants. 

The goal for most of them is to ship hydrogen, in the form of ammonia, to Germany, where there is a significant market for greener forms of energy.

Scholtysik said he hopes to see a "good focus on Atlantic Canada presenting itself as a region, and as the closest region to Germany" at the summit.

A project led by EverWind Fuels has already cleared the environmental assessment process in Nova Scotia and another, led by World Energy GH2, is in the final stages of that process in Newfoundland and Labrador. Both companies are aiming to start production within the next few years.

"A lot needs to happen in order to make those timelines, and I'm happy that this discussion continues at the political level. It's something that needs continued focus to make it realistic," Scholtysik said.

MORE National ARTICLES

DNA match in Ibrahim Ali murder case as exact as identical twins, B.C. court is told

DNA match in Ibrahim Ali murder case as exact as identical twins, B.C. court is told
An RCMP expert testifying at Ibrahim Ali's murder trial told the court she has never seen a DNA match as close as the one between the suspect and samples found on his alleged victim — except for DNA matches between identical twins. Forensic biologist Christine Crossman said police investigators were very thorough in their collection and testing of genetic samples from the body of the 13-year-old girl, whose identity is protected by a publication ban.

DNA match in Ibrahim Ali murder case as exact as identical twins, B.C. court is told

Ex-B.C. police chief to investigate release of suspect before Chinatown stabbing

Ex-B.C. police chief to investigate release of suspect before Chinatown stabbing
Former Abbotsford police chief Bob Rich has been appointed to look into the release of a man from British Columbia's psychiatric hospital before the man allegedly stabbed three people in Vancouver's Chinatown. Premier David Eby said Thursday that he has read the BC Review Board report on the accused and wants Rich to determine how the man could have been released, despite being a "really significant danger to the public." 

Ex-B.C. police chief to investigate release of suspect before Chinatown stabbing

Federal government will remove GST on new rental housing builds, senior source says

Federal government will remove GST on new rental housing builds, senior source says
A senior government source says Ottawa is planning to remove the G-S-T on construction of new rental apartment buildings. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to make the announcement today as he wraps up a three-day Liberal caucus retreat in London, Ontario.

Federal government will remove GST on new rental housing builds, senior source says

B.C. Sikh referendum will ask if Indian diplomat was responsible for Nijjar killing

B.C. Sikh referendum will ask if Indian diplomat was responsible for Nijjar killing
The group Sikhs for Justice, which has been staging a series of non-binding votes in several countries on the independence issue, says the first stage of balloting in B.C. on Sunday attracted more than 135,000 voters. It says the second stage will be held on Oct. 29 and will add a second question about whether High Commissioner Sanjay Verma was responsible for the "assassination" of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

B.C. Sikh referendum will ask if Indian diplomat was responsible for Nijjar killing

All former youth in care in B.C. now eligible for education tuition waivers: minister

All former youth in care in B.C. now eligible for education tuition waivers: minister
British Columbia has expanded its tuition waiver program to include all former youth in government care enrolling in post-secondary education. Selina Robinson, post-secondary education and future skills minister, says the program is no longer capped at the student's 27th birthday.

All former youth in care in B.C. now eligible for education tuition waivers: minister

More evacuation orders coming down around West Kelowna, B.C., wildfire

More evacuation orders coming down around West Kelowna, B.C., wildfire
The area under evacuation order around a wildfire in West Kelowna, B.C., is gradually shrinking. The Central Okanagan emergency operations centre says residents of 16 properties along Bear Creek Road are allowed to go home, although they remain on evacuation alert and must be ready to leave again if the McDougall Creek wildfire flares.   

More evacuation orders coming down around West Kelowna, B.C., wildfire