The EU and Canada will forge an "alliance fot he future", European Council President Antonio Costa said on Friday (October 30) aheaf of summit meeting between the bloc and the North American country in Montreal.

"Now we are here to buil an alliance for the future", he told reporters.

"The closest, the deepest, the strongest association ever between the European Union and the non-European conutry. Canada is by far the most European of the non-European countries," he added.

European Comission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday (October 29) the EU and Canada continue to explore Canada becoming the union´s first "associate member", a term so divisme among memeber conutries that it does not appear a joint declaration.

The European Union and Canada aime to deepen cooperation on AI, climate energy and security, von der Leyen said in a speech at a Canada-EU summit in Montreal.

The associate member term, which Germany and several other EU countries oppose, has no legal meaning.

The declaration, which officials plan to make public on Friday, said work to define the Canada-EU relationship would continue ultil another summit nest year.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

EU, Canada to forge "alliance for the future", says Costa at Mostreal summit

VIDEO SHOWS: CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER MARK CARNEY, EUROPEAN COMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN AND EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANTOCIO COSTA SEPAKING AHEAD OF MEETING AT SUMMIT IN MOTREAL

SHOWS: MONTREAL, CANADA (OCTOBER 30, 20206) (EUROPEAN UNION -Access all)

1. CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER MARK CARNEY, EU CHIEF URSULA VON DER LEYEN AND EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANTONIO COSTA SPEAKING AHEAD OF MEETING

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER MARK CARNEY, SAYING:

"We've already had some very productive discussion.s our teams have been working hard. I just want to say a couple of words about waht this means for Canadians. It means affordability, more copetition, more choice, easier access. It means opportunity, opportunity for our youth, opportunity for our researchers, opportunity for our companies. Of course, that holds for Europeans and European companies. And it means, ats its base, sovereignty, greater resilience, and the ability to withstand shocsk together".

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANTONIO COSTA SAYING:

"Our summits are always historic summits because we have amde our history together from over centuries and we will continue. Our relationship is based on a common vision of the world, mutual trust, and shared values. Now we are here to build an alliance for the future. The closest, the deepest, the strongest association ever between the European Union and the non-European country. Canada is by far the most European of the non-European countries".

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"Indeedn, it is not so importatn where the country is on the map. (What is) important is the values that the country defends and the country stands in international relations. And therefore, we are very happy to be at the EU-Canada Summit. We know that we want Canada as close as possible to the European Union. We know that Canada cannot be a full-fledged member of the European Union, but to have a relationship as close aspossible, this is our goal. There are many topics bilaterally that we will discuss this morning".

5. VON DER LEYEN, COSTA AND CARNEY