québec and the european union mathieu parenteau service des affaires européennes délégation...

Québec and the European Union

Mathieu Parenteau

Service des affaires européennes

Délégation générale du Québec à Bruxelles

July 11 2012

www.quebec-europe.be

1. About Québec and Canada

2. Le Ministère des Relations internationales du Québec (MRI)

3. Québec in Brussels

4. Québec and the European UnionQuébec’s role in the CETA negotiations

5. Québec and other European federated states

6. Conclusion – Questions

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Presentation outlinePresentation outline

23-04-18 3Le Québec en chiffres, en lettres et en images

About Québec and CanadaAbout Québec and Canada

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Fast Facts - Canada

About CanadaAbout Canada

Founded: 1 July 1867 (confederation: ON, QC, NS, NB)

Population: 34.5 million

Size: ~ 9.984.000 km2 (33x Italy)

Capital: Ottawa

Largest City: Toronto

Prime Minister: Stephen Harper

Head of State: HM Elizabeth II (constitutional monarchy)

Official Languages: English and French

10 Provinces - 3 Territories

Fast Facts - Québec

About QuébecAbout Québec

Discovered: 1534 – Jacques Cartier

Founded : 1608 – Samuel de Champlain (Qc. City)

Population: 7.9 million

Size: ~ 1.542.000 km2 (5x Italy)

Capital: Québec City

Largest City: Montréal

Premier: Jean Charest

Official Language: French

1867 – British North American Act

1982 – Constitution Act

Canadian Federalism

About Québec & CanadaAbout Québec & Canada

Federal Provinces Shared

Airports, Seaports, Border Control

Healthcare & Social Services

Culture**

National Defence Education Immigration**

Customs & Revenue, International Trade

Natural Resources Environment

Currency & Banking Civil Registry Aboriginal Relations

Fisheries & Oceans, Coast Guard

Municipal Affairs Justice & Lawmaking**

** Québec has negotiated increased autonomy from the federal government in these domains, compared to other provinces

The Canadian Constitution does not assign responsibility for international relations


Le Ministère des Relations Le Ministère des Relations internationales du Québec (MRI)internationales du Québec (MRI)

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Le MRILe MRI

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1 Promote and defend Québec’s interest on the international scene

2 Represent the Québec government on foreign soil3 Plan and direct the foreign activities of the government

and its departments and agencies4 Negotiate and oversee the implementation of

international commitments5 Manage representations on foreign soil

Act respecting the Ministère des Relations internationales (1967)


Le MRILe MRI

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Promoting Québec’s interests

« We believe that when Québec is the sole government responsible for implementing a particular international agreement, it should clearly be the one making the international commitment. It is up to Québec to take responsibility for the international extension of its areas of domestic jurisdiction : a Québec jurisdiction at home remains a Québec jurisdiction abroad. »

Jean CharestPremier of Québec

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, November 8, 2004


Le MRILe MRI

Québec’s network of offices and representatives abroad

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BRUSSELS


Le MRILe MRI

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General Delegation• Headed by a delegate general• Services: economy, education, culture, immigration and public affairs • Brussels, London, Mexico City, Munich, New York, Paris, Tokyo

Delegation• Headed by a delegate• Services: economy, education, culture, immigration and public affairs• Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Rome

Bureau • Headed by a director• Services in a limited number of areas• Barcelona, Beijing, Berlin, Damascus, Hong Kong, Mumbai, São Paulo, Shanghai, Vienna,

Washington

Trade Branch• Headed by a resident of the host country• Services in specific fields of activity• Milan, Santiago, Seoul, Taipei

Types of representations


Québec in BrusselsQuébec in Brussels

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Québec in BrusselsQuébec in Brussels

Territories covered

Belgium

Luxembourg

The Netherlands

European Institutions

Inaugurated in 1972

Québec’s third General Delegation in Europe, after Paris and London

Current Delegate General: Christos Sirros, since 2004

Services

European Business

Bilateral Relations

Economic Affairs

Public Affairs & Communication

Immigration

Administration

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Flag_of_Belgium.svg

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Flag_of_Luxembourg.svg


Québec and the European UnionQuébec and the European Union

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European Business Department – Our mandate –

•To monitor work done by European institutions in areas relevant to Québec’s competencies and interests;

•To develop, maintain, and coordinate relations with the various institutions of the European Union and other European authorities, including the Council of Europe, as well as with certain regional associations including the Assembly of European Regions and the Conference of European Regions with Legislative Power (REGLEG);

•To organize missions to European institutions carried out by Québec political figures and representatives of Québec institutions and organizations, host and advise delegations, provide support in organizing any visits to Québec by representatives of European institutions;

•To ensure that Québec plays an active role in cooperative initiatives involving Canada and the European Union;

•To watch and analyze the development of European institutions and European multi-region institutions.


Organizing Events

11 April 2012

Delegate General Christos Sirros and Assistant Deputy Minister Richard Savard (Québec Ministry of Natural Resources and Fauna) at the European Parliament Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development

9 May 2012

Québec Delegate General Christos Sirros giving a lecture to European leaders on the Plan Nord, Québec’s ambitious natural resource, sustainable energy, and economic development strategy


A few partners in Brussels & Strasbourg

The Climate Group

Canadian Mission to the European Union

Conference of European Regions with Legislative

Power

European Parliament Delegation for Relations

with Canada


A real life example – Québec’s role in the negotiations of the Canada-EU CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement)

• Québec was the major driving factor to initiate CETA negotiations

• January 2007 – Jean Charest launches the idea of a Canada-EU FTA in Davos

• Québec Delegation in Brussels actively promotes the idea of a FTA. Québec lobbies European business and political sectors for their support, through media and public awareness events

• January 2008 – Canadian Premiers concur that an economic partnership agreement between Canada and the EU would be advantageous


• Summer 2008 – Jean Charest and Dalton McGuinty (Ontario) encourage Canada and Europe to begin negotiations, meet with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mendelson

• October 2008 - Canada-EU Summit in Québec City. Provinces are assured of their participation when negotiating topics in their competences

• February 2009 – Jean Charest meets with Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris, and then with José Manuel Barroso and Catherine Ashton in Brussels, to actively promote the CETA


Jean Charest and José Barroso, Brussels 2009

Nicolas Sarkozy, Stephen Harper and José Barroso Québec City, 2008



• May 2009 – Negotiations between Canada – EU begin

• October 2011 – Final round of negotiations

• April 2012 – EU Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Canada visits Québec and Ottawa

• Canada and EU strive to have agreement signed by the end of 2012

Québec and other European federated Québec and other European federated statesstates

Québec has strong ties to other European federated states:

Germany – Bavaria

Belgium – Wallonia

Spain – Basque Country, Catalonia

Italy - Lombardy

Québec’s offices in Munich, Barcelona, and Milan (respectively) contribute to bilateral relations between Québec and the targeted regions.

Our office in Brussels collaborates with these regions on an European level, for example, at the Assembly of European Regions, where Québec is an observer.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Catalonia.svg

québec and the european union mathieu parenteau service des affaires européennes délégation...

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