The co-convenors of last year’s successful Trans-Atlantic Legislators’ Liberty Dialogue (TLLD), Sir Graham Watson (UK) and former Senator Art Eggleton (Canada), welcome this week’s formal moves by the European Union and Canada towards a new Association.

More Canadian attention is now being re-directed to Europe and other parts of the world for trade, investment, and security opportunities through the initiatives of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his government. Mr. Carney has referred to Canada as “the most European of non-European countries”. He and the leaders of the EU and the UK have expressed the wish to strengthen links between these rules-based democracies. Canada has been offered associate membership status in the European Union, and while it will remain sovereign there is a much deeper cooperation being pursued.

Senator Eggleton and Sir Graham Watson also welcome the call made by the liberal Renew Group of MEPs for the EU to welcome Canada by ensuring a rapid full ratification of CETA by EU Member States.

The TLLD was first held in Canada last November at the University of Toronto and consisted of 10 Canadian and 10 European up-and-coming liberally minded parliamentarians. Ideas of how to build parliamentary majorities in support of closer co-operation were discussed along with other means of advancing liberal democracy. Personal connections were established to kickstart this process. ‘We are working with the sponsoring partners of Liberal International, the EP’s Renew Group, the EU’s ALDE Party and the Canadian Group of Liberal International, to organize a second TLL Dialogue in Europe in the months ahead’, the organisers said.