On December 8, 2025, Canada and the European Union held the inaugural meeting of the Canada–EU Digital Partnership Council in Montreal. The meeting produced a Joint Statement and two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) that outline concrete areas of cooperation. Co-chaired by Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Hon. Evan Solomon, and the EU’s Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Henna Virkkunen, this high-level forum reaffirmed shared goals of boosting competitiveness and innovation, building trust in the digital economy and advancing technological sovereignty.
The Joint Statement sets out commitments in key domains, from accelerating AI adoption and conformity assessment practices to advancing digital credentials interoperability and strengthening cybersecurity collaboration.
Accelerating AI Adoption and Responsible Innovation
Both Canada and the EU have agreed to expedite the adoption of artificial intelligence in strategic sectors while ensuring it is done responsibly. Under a new Canada–EU MoU on Artificial Intelligence, the parties will collaborate on AI frameworks, standards, skills development and sector-specific adoption.
The Joint Statement specifically notes plans to “accelerate sectoral AI adoption” (e.g. in health care, manufacturing, energy, public services) by sharing policies and best practices, and to address SME-focused adoption challenges such as low awareness, integration barriers, limited compute access, and talent gaps. Both sides also pledged to implement the G7 AI Adoption Roadmap and expand AI talent exchanges.
Mutual Recognition & Standards
A major theme in the Joint Statement is regulatory cooperation to foster fair, trust-based digital markets without imposing duplicative burdens. Notably, Canada and the EU agreed to “launch exploratory talks towards potential future mutual recognition of the results of conformity assessments” for cutting-edge tech products, initially focusing on AI-enabled systems and cybersecurity products.
In simple terms, this means working toward a regime where if an AI system or connected device is tested and certified to safety or security standards in one jurisdiction, the other could recognize that certification. These talks will leverage mechanisms such as the CETA Protocol on Conformity Assessment.
The Statement also endorses closer coordination in digital standards development. Together, these efforts aim to reduce trade frictions, ensure regulatory interoperability and build cross-border trust in emerging technologies.
Interoperable Digital Credentials and Trust Services
Another highlight of the Montreal meeting was the signing of a Canada–EU MoU on Digital Credentials and Trust Services, underscoring a joint commitment to enable secure, interoperable digital identity systems.
The Joint Statement commits both sides to “continue … collaboration on digital credentials and trust services, including technical interoperability for specific use cases (e.g. digital wallets), joint testing of technologies and standards development” under the new MoU.
The goal is to support mutual recognition, meaning a digital credential such as an e-signature, university degree or mobile driver’s licence issued in Canada could be trusted and accepted in Europe, and vice versa.
The MoU’s provisions draw heavily on findings from a recent study, which concluded there are “no insurmountable legal or technical barriers” to mutual recognition between Canada and Europe. The study recommended a stepwise path to recognition, beginning with pilot use cases to demonstrate interoperability and culminating in a formal equivalency agreement.
Strengthening Cybersecurity Cooperation and Trust
Cybersecurity is woven throughout the Joint Statement as a foundational element of digital trust. Canada and the EU agreed to “continue [their] dialogue on cybersecurity regulation”, including launching technical discussions on respective frameworks and standards.
A key objective is exploring “how mutual recognition of the results of conformity assessment for cybersecurity of connected products could potentially be achieved”. This complements the AI-focused mutual recognition efforts and responds directly to emerging regulatory requirements such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act.
By seeking ways to recognize each other’s cybersecurity certifications—potentially via CETA’s Protocol on Conformity Assessment—Canada and the EU are addressing industry concerns about duplicate testing and certification for products sold in both markets.
Beyond product security, the Statement also emphasizes collaboration on cyber standards and platform governance, including sharing best practices on cybersecurity standards development and coordinating responses to online threats and disinformation. Together, these measures aim to strengthen security baselines while enabling innovation and trade.
From Priorities to Bilateral Action
The first Joint Statement and MoUs from the Canada–EU Digital Partnership Council translate shared priorities into an implementation agenda spanning AI adoption, standards and conformity assessment, interoperable trust services and cybersecurity.
Looking ahead, Canadians should prepare to engage in the implementation phase of these commitments. This may include participation in Canada–EU joint workshops and meetings, contributing to technical exchanges on standards interoperability, and providing expertise as both parties work through the details of potential mutual recognition frameworks.