On October 29, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a keynote speech at the C.D. Howe Institute in Montreal focused on developing relations between the European Union and Canada. The event took place in the historic Mount Royal Club building. At the beginning of her remarks, von der Leyen thanked William Cronick, president of the institute, for organizing the meeting and providing the opportunity to discuss key aspects of cooperation between the two sides. The European leader's visit to Canada is viewed as part of efforts to strengthen the transatlantic partnership amid a changing global political and economic landscape. In her speech, von der Leyen traditionally addresses topics such as trade cooperation, joint approaches to ensuring economic security, technology development, and responses to common challenges, including the climate agenda. The C.D. Howe Institute is one of Canada's leading think tanks specializing in economic policy and regularly hosts significant international guests to discuss current issues. The choice of venue underscores the importance Brussels places on dialogue with Canadian partners on matters of economics and international affairs. Details of the speech's content, including specific proposals and agreements, are expected as the full transcript is published.