Canada and the European Union concluded a digital trade agreement, signed a European Investment Bank framework to finance Canadian critical minerals projects and agreed to expand Canada's participation in EU research and student exchange programs at their summit in Montreal on Oct. 29-30, Politico reported on Oct. 30. The joint declaration, also covering energy, defense, artificial intelligence and financial services, commits both sides to an "ever closer association" to be defined by the 2027 summit, after member states removed the "associate member" status proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.