Madam President, it is interesting that we are discussing EU-Canada relations on the same day as Mr George Bush is visiting the United Kingdom and trumpeting the so-called special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States of America. In the corner of the UK that I come from, the special relationship is not with the United States of America but with Canada. There are very few Scottish families that do not have a relative, however distant, living in Canada. So the ties that bind Scotland and Canada are much stronger, I would argue, than the ties that bind the United Kingdom and the United States of America. That is also true for other parts of the European Union. As Mr Schröder, rightly says, the French have a natural affinity to Canada, the Irish also, and when with enlargement on the horizon, the Poles and the Baltic States too have many relatives and many connections with Canada. So the EU's relationship with Canada is extremely important and we should do everything possible to nurture it. It was therefore with some sadness I heard the Commissioner inform us tonight that the summit looks like it could be cancelled. I know from my contacts with Canadians that Prime Minister Chrétien, a very good friend of Europe, believed that holding this EU-Canada summit would be one of the crowing points of his final few weeks in office. It would be a slap in the face to a good friend of Europe if this summit does not go ahead in some shape or form. It does not matter to him, to me, or to the Commission whether that summit is held in Europe or whether it is held in Canada. The important thing is that it happens before 12 December. Canada is important for a variety of reasons and I shall be telegraphic in saying this because Mr Vitorino and Mr Schröder have already outlined some of those. The links that we have are important for cultural and historical reasons. I was hoping that the summit would nurture further exchanges between young people so that we can retain those existing links and build upon them for the future. The EU and Canada are natural partners on the world stage. We both value, in a way that some other countries do not, the multilateral institutions of the world and we value the international rule of law. Much is to be gained by working with our Canadian partners on issues as diverse as the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, and the Doha trade negotiations. Again, as the Commissioner rightly outlined, our economic and trade relations are good. Importantly, they are good in a two-way sense: it is not a one-way trading relationship. Canada's willingness to reach an agreement on trade in wine and spirits demonstrates the goodwill that characterises our relationship with the Canadians. Finally, on justice and home affairs, we have a common approach to issues as diverse as terrorism, migration, asylum and border controls, as well as issues of the integration of migrants. I hope - and I address this to Commissioner Vitorino - that we can find a solution to Canada's desire to have a longer visa period for Canadian citizens visiting the EU. In conclusion, I share the Commission's view about the EU's relationship with Canada. I hope that this House will join with the European Commission in stressing to the Council the importance of the summit going ahead in some shape or form.

Political group: PSE