The 21st summit of the European Union and Canada took place in Montreal, following which the parties signed a joint statement on the creation of an 'Alliance for the Future'. The document was presented by EU and Canadian leaders as a step toward forming a closer and more comprehensive partnership between the two sides. According to a statement from the European Commission, the new alliance is intended to lay the foundation for long-term cooperation on a broad range of issues of mutual interest to Brussels and Ottawa. The initiative is viewed as a development of the already existing close ties between the EU and Canada, which have been cooperating for many years in the trade, economic, and political spheres. The specific details of the alliance's content—which areas of cooperation it will cover and what mechanisms will be used for its implementation—are outlined only in general terms in the published announcement. It is expected that details will be revealed as negotiations between the parties progress. The EU-Canada summit takes place regularly and serves as a platform for discussing key issues of bilateral cooperation, including trade, security, climate policy, and technological development. The current meeting in Montreal is a landmark one—the 21st in total—and, based on statements from both sides, may mark a new phase in relations between the European Union and Canada.