JOINT DECLARATION ON THE STRENGTHENING OF THE BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE NETHERLANDS AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

The peoples of The Netherlands and Canada, despite distance and differences in language and customs, recognize that they share a great friendship. This friendship has its origins in the sacrifices made by many young Canadians during the liberation of the Netherlands, in the refuge given to the Dutch Royal Family in Canada during the Second World War, and in the important contribution that Dutch immigrants have made to the building of Canada.

Ties between The Netherlands and Canada have grown over the years, fostered by shared values, governmental and military collaboration, trade and investment, educational and cultural exchanges, tourism, and regular celebration of the special bond between the countries at festivals and remembrance ceremonies.

Recognizing that ample scope exists for a further strengthening and deepening of the existing bilateral relations;

Emphasizingthat this objective will be pursued in full accordance with the state structure of both countries and the division of competences deriving therefrom;

The Governments of The Netherlands and Canada decide as follows:

I GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

An enhanced bilateral dialogue will be undertaken. It will be based on a series of regularly occurring consultations, the exact timing and level of which will remain flexible. The respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs will take the initiative for such consultations.

The two Governments intend a broad range of Ministries to participate in the bilateral dialogue, and be part of the regular exchange of views and perspectives.

Convinced that each side has much to learn from innovative policies adopted by the other, Canada and The Netherlands will hold an annual seminar on an issue of mutual interest, with particular but not exclusive emphasis on questions of social and economic policy.

II. BUSINESS TO BUSINESS RELATIONS

The Governments of The Netherlands and Canada will pursue the objective of further developing their bilateral economic, commercial, scientific and technological relations. They will work to expand bilateral trade and investment, including by increasing awareness of their potential as gateways to their respective continents. They will also study the possibilities for cooperations in multilateral fora important to businesses.

Both countries are important economic powers and trading partners and belong to major regional trade arrangements, The Netherlands as a member of the European Union and Canada as a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and as such each will work to ensure a regular exchange of views on issues related to these regional arrangements.

III PEOPLE TO PEOPLE RELATIONS

The Government of The Netherlands and Canada will stimulate, develop, and support institutional efforts aimed at bringing the civil society of both countries closer together and thereby encouraging a better understanding between their peoples notably by increased discovery of their respective culture and values.

IV CONTACT GROUPS

Taking note of the existence in The Netherlands of the ‘Contactgroep Canada’, presided by Mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven, the Governments of The Netherlands and Canada will support efforts by ‘Contact Groups’, established or to be established in their countries, aiming at injecting fresh élan into efforts to maintain and foster excellent relationships between The Netherlands and Canada.

V PROGRESS REVIEW

The two governments undertake to collaborate closely to further strengthen the special relationship that exists between The Netherlands and Canada, and to periodically review progress in achieving the objectives of this Declaration.

SIGNED, the 23rd of September 2003, at New-York.