European Ambassadors on mission to B.C.

OTTAWA - European Union Ambassador Geneviève Tuts will lead a delegation of 14 Heads of Mission of EU Member States on a three-day visit to British Columbia. The 20-22 May joint visit follows similar Team Europe missions across Canada and is part of the European Union's outreach activities aimed at enhancing cooperation with Canadian provinces and territories.

The European delegation includes the Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.

"The EU-Canada relationship is thriving from coast to coast to coast, with the Canadian provinces and territories at the heart of our bilateral relations. British Columbia is an important partner for the EU and EU Members States. Our visit reflects the extent of our shared geopolitical and economic interests. It also highlights the close collaboration between the European Union and our Member States in external relations," said Ambassador Tuts.

"In a world of growing uncertainty, partnerships between like-minded democracies such as Canada and the EU are more crucial than ever. Indeed, we are determined to continue building on the success of our partnership."

During their mission, the EU Heads of Mission will meet with Premier David Eby to discuss opportunities for enhanced cooperation between the EU and B.C. The programme highlights the wide spectrum of existing collaborations with potential for further growth in such strategic areas as clean energy, sustainable economic development, innovation and trade.

While in B.C., the ambassadorial delegation will visit the Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technology, the Port of Vancouver and several clean tech companies. Stops also include the Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt - the Royal Canadian Navy's Pacific Coast naval base. What's more, the programme features meetings with EU consuls in B.C. and students at Victoria University and University of British Columbia.

About the Delegation of the European Union to Canada

Established in 1976, the Delegation of the European Union to Canada is a fully-fledged diplomatic mission and, as such, the natural contact point in Canada between the EU and the Canadian authorities. It also has a strong public diplomacy mandate designed to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the European Union as well as EU-Canada relations. This year, the Delegation celebrates 50 years of EU diplomatic presence in Canada.