Ottawa, 11 October 2001.- The Presidential Committee of the Assembly of WEU – the interim European Security and Defence Assembly – met parliamentarians from the Canadian House of Commons and Senate and Government officials to discuss questions of international security. The debates focused on international terrorism and the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
 
The parliamentarians endorsed the operations by the US-led alliance against the al-Qaida network and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Assembly representatives welcomed the strong Canadian involvement that was announced during the visit.   
 
Canadian and European parliamentarians emphasised that the fight against international terrorism would be successful if it continued to be a multinational and multi-level effort.   
 
With regard to current developments in ESDP, “Canadians are concerned they could be left in between an ever more monolithic EU and a US government with a unilateral attitude” explained Klaus Bühler, MdB, President of the Assembly, after his meetings with the Speaker of the Senate, the Hon. Daniel Hays, and the Defence Minister, the Hon. Art Eggleton.   
 
“We should welcome Canadian offers to contribute to European crisis-management operations because Canada has long-standing experience and an outstanding record in this field. For the EU, Canada is a vital partner in NATO at a time when EU-NATO relations are crucial to the success of ESDP”, Bühler said.