d?mMr}. mu. Huh-t v. .W-t V. mu. wan-h 29.? a . gm' Fir ?ght-mega, ail-Hm: i; g; grip-e3 Egg-"w: if; ri?e?. m, g: 3; 35M 'f f7,? 33?? "oer its? v?r' xa' as:- '5 vat? its? 5' a. -: a? Hem-3' '51. ?xx 3' 3 Hut- Hr "has" d? ??ch -: 6" -: .rx Av.? 3.x- -. - 32, e- .--. . .--. a, an. ya .cv. wc- Ii'iwl' -: -: in. 'E-t s.15(1) - International CONCEPT NOTE: AMBASSDOR DESIGNATE AND SPECIAL ROLES IN EUROPE Summag: The Prime Minister has asked you to serve as Ambassador to Germany and as his Special Envoy to the European Union and Europe. These appointmetns will emphasize the importance Canada accords to its partnerships with the EU, its Member States, and Europe more generally. a As Ambassador to Germany, you will be responsible for broadening and strengthening Canada?s relations with the largest EU Member State, 0 As G7 Member, 620 Host this year and NATO Ally (among other affiliations), Germany is not only an important bilateral partner for Canada but an essential multilateral one as well. 0 German politics is currently in flux, with elections in September 2017, . Re-establishing Canadian contact points at all levels in Germany after the election will be vital to protecting and promoting Canadian interests in Germany and in Europe more generally. a As Special Envoy to the EU and Europe, the future of the EU, will be a natural focus of your attention. 4- Ratification and implementation of CETA, and the promotion of early benefits for Canadian comagnies from CETA, are areas ripe for attention in close consultation with Minister Champagne and CETA Special Envoy Pettigrew. - Under the SPA, messaging on openness, diversity and inclusion, and bolstering common values in view of risks to democracy are all areas where your unique attributes could be put to good use. Enviornment, climate change and global water issues is another set of important issues you could pursue with European partners. 0 The EU is a vital partner for Canada on almost all global issues, so you can help to ensure closer Canada-EU c00peration to advance a shared agenda within multilatreral organizations. 0 With strong leadership in place at the Canadian Mission to the EU, your role in Brussels will be to work with them to strategically buttress and heighten Canada?s representation with European Commissioners, key officials, Parliamentarians, think tanks and influence?leaders in support of Canada?s objectives. 0 As Special Envoy to Europe and the EU (Pan?European Mandate), a new degree of representation, coherence and consistency will be brought to our engagement with Europe on issues of key interest to Canada. 0 In this role, you will convene an annual European Heads of Mission meeting. The European Heads of Mission meeting is a signature opportunity to enable you to information received on the ground and your discussions with senior Canadian officials and Cabinet Ministers to improve Canadian policy and strategy coherence across the European network of missuons. 000014 in?: 3.: 0 Your unparalleled access to Candian Cabinet Ministers will also allow you the Opportunity to bring the Specific interests and concerns to the attention of Canadian Ministers. 4- And your presence in the region will enable Canada to be present at a very senior level more often than has been possible the past, on a strategic basis across Europe, and on issues as diverse as the Arctic, our UN Security Council Campaign, Russia/ Ukraine, and other Eastern European or Balkan hotspots (see indicative lists attached as Annexes). Introduction: .. Your appointment as Ambassador to Germany and Special Envoy to the EU and Europe - coming as it does at the juncture of a decline of faith in political integration in Europe and an intensification of Canada?s engagement with the EU - provides Canada with a unique opportunity to reinforce the value of a strong and united Europe by articulating the very arguments that advance Canadian interests across the continent: that fundamental benefits flow from an inclusive, secure and just society. In addition to your capacity as Ambassador to Germany, the Department is preposing to also utilizeyour appointment as Special Envoy to Europe and the EU to important advantage in areas in which there are representational gaps and strategic Opportunities. Your pa n?European efforts will be dedicated and effective in addressing rising populist sentiment (inclusiveness), cementing Canada?s interests (CETA and the Strategic Partnership Agreement) and addressing key representational gaps especially at a senior level (the Arctic, the UNSC campaign, and in Eastern EurOpe). The Department anticipates that the profile you bring to activities under these themes will result in greater coherence and prominence to ongoing work undertaken by individual Missions. The Department also recommends that an annual paper be prepared for consideration by the Prime Minister on each of these themes, bringing together the work of our European netWork. The paper below and the Annexes attached outline an ambitious schedule of events presently foreseen over the course of the next year and are targeted to exploit your appointment to Canada?s best strategic advantage. Germany Germany is a critical international partner for Canada with a powerful voice in the EU and EurOpe more broadly. A G7, 620 and NATO partner, Europe?s largest economy (the world?s fourth largest), and led by a Chancellor and government whose domestic and international policies are in large part complementary to those of Canada. Germany is not, however, immune to the turbulent currents that are mounting in Europe. As Ambassador to Germany, the greatest proportion of your time and attention will be devoted to strengthening and broadening our already extensive relations and cooperation. Canada and Germany cooperate across a range of issue areas such as transatlantic relations, Russia/ Ukraine, counter- terrorism, the global fight against Daesh, and migration. German national elections are scheduled for 000015 I hull. g, I: flu-II'1.'51. .: I September 2017 a As such, your pro?le will be leveraged at many major events, including those outlined below, to bring a forceful voice to Canada?s policies and interests with politicians across the political spectrum and senior government officials at the federal and provincial (Lander) level, decision-makers, business? and influence-leaders, as well as MEPs from Germany. These efforts and others will support our international efforts to promote these policies, and showcasing Canada?s leadership will play well in both the German and EU contexts. Both as a leader and as part of its broader international engagement, Germany often hosts Ministerial and other high-level meetings and you will be well-placed to help bring these Opportunities to the attention of the government as well as other important contacts. With the advent of Brexit, i it is important to build our relations with other major players in the EU to unhderstand dynamics and to advocate for Canadian interests. Developing relationships with key contacts will be critical in the short-term and will be SUpported by outreach efforts in which the prominence of your appointment and role will be leveraged to communicate Canada?s interests more broadly and directly to the German public through social media and a new focus on outreach to regional German media. Annex A outlines an ambitious list of key events and activities. Special Envoy: European Union Despite the 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, the European Union is facing a series of deep crises. Euro-skepticism is on the rise and in the words of President Tusk, decline of faith in political integration, submission to populist arguments as well as doubt in the fundamental values of liberal democracy are all increasingly visible." This is the environment in which you appointment as Special Envoy to Europe and the EU takes place and for which it can be put to best use. Canadian messaging on diversity and inclusiveness can go a very long way in Europe. As a Strategic Partner of the European Union, and at a time when we will be implementing two landmark treaties bringing us even closer together the SPA and CETA - Canada must seize this moment to forcefully communicate the value, and indeed the necessity, of a strong, united European Union. In addition, Canada must work to ensure that CETA is ratified by all of the Member States, delivers for peOple on both sides of the Atlantic and becomes the blueprint for future trade agreements around the world. CETA is a golden opportunity for Canada to grow our participation in the huge European market and Canada must actively promote our companies so that they may benefit from economic and investment opporutnities that CETA brings. It will be important to coordinate this work carefully with Minister Champagne and CETA Special Envoy Pettigrew to ensure consistent messaging and appropriate coverage. Canada must also ensure that its cooperation with the EU is solid on core international security and global challenges, and seek to align and balance this with its relations with the US The SPA in particular will be a key vehicle to reinforce Canada-EU cooperation in these and other important areas of shared c" -: ?ve. V. -: .w-t mu. ?Er-vi; i; gram}: age-v if; rib-fun. m, g: 3; grid 'f 33.he" xw' its?? as:- '5 vat? itsawe-xv. - .-. .v-cg??e . 2" . ES- . ..-: .5 Fey-cwas:- -: -: ?Rm: 000016 concern, and you will be well-positioned to ensure high-level, whole-of?government coordination for its successful implementation and to advance key Canadian interests. Under the SPA, messaging on openness, diversity and inclusion, and bolstering common values in view of risks to democracy are all areas where your unique attributes could be put to good use. Enviornment, climate change and global water issues is another set of important issues to pursue with European partners. The EU is a vital partner for Canada on almost all global issues, closer Canada-EU cooperation would help advance a shared agenda within multilatreral organizations. With strong leadership in place at the Canadian Mission to the EU, your role in Brussels will be to work with them to strategically buttress and heighten Canada?s representation with European Commissioners, key officials, Parliamentarians, think tanks and influence-leaders in support of Canada?s objectives. In the role of Special Envoy to Europe and the EU, forceful engagement on openness, including economic openness through progressive trade, and openness to immigration andrefugees, is crucial and could not be more timely. The BREU Head of Mission has been unable in the past to attend many of the events outlined for your participation in Annex and your involvement will strongly expand and diversify our representation. Special Envoy: Pan-European Mandate As Special Envoy to Europe and the EU, a new degree of representation, coherence and consistency will be brought to our engagement with the EU and Europe more broadly on issues of key interest to Canada. An important aspect of your appointment, and a commitment to the Prime Minister, will be to convene a European Heads of Mission meeting in the Fall of 2017 (following German elections). You will chair this meeting some six months into your tenure after having developed a very good sense of the realities on the ground and heard from Europeans and your Head of Mission colleagues regarding the context of the situation in Europe and the challenges it faces. In addition, your unparalleled access to Cabinet Ministers will allow you the opportunity to bring their specific interests and concerns to the attention of Ministers. As such, the European Heads of Mission meeting is a signature opportunity to enable you to information received on the ground and your discussions with senior Canadian officials and Cabinet Ministers to improve Canadian policy and strategy coherence across the European network of Arctic The Arctic provides an excellent opportunity to pursue whole of government policy including Indigenous issues, scientific cooperation, oceans issues, climate change, and responsible and sustainable economic development. There are several Arctic-related meetings described in Annex that take place throughout the year. This area is in need of high-level representation and will significantly benefit from your attention and representation. 000017 ll.953'11:- c'Ex? .5 a. 11.! xx:- -: xx' "xx: 'xx . 'xn 'xx ix' 'xx' -: ?Rm: I I Canada?s commitment to develop a whole of government Arctic Policy Framework that contains an international dimension will provide additional Opportunities to engage with European counterparts that can both influence EurOpean policy as well as inform Canadian approaches. Your involvement in these high-level Arctic-related meetings will add credibility to our delegation and provide access to other high-level officials as well as demonstrating the increased attention the Government of Canada is giving to these issues. UN Security Council (UNSC) Campaign Eastern Europe An important counterpoint to Canada?s reengagementwith Russia should be in the expanded expression of support we can provide for greater resilience among the other countries of Eastern Europe. This will include the full range of tools at our disposal, including but not limited to enhanced diplomatic engagement -- your travel to the region will be an important and evident component - support in multilateral institutions, bilateral instruments (FIPA, Double Taxation Agreements) public diplomacy and strengthened economic ties to help the region The leaders and people in the former Soviet countries, their decision to move towa Euro-Atlantic integration icy-3' '51. "he: -: 6" .cva. a, gill-"l. - vx .-: Inga-3: c? 11;" 'xn -: 243:? 000018 in?: 3.: a. vat? 5' :hcm- a: a. -: ?cw a? '51.-.- :Ilm- .-- Va 3 .cv' H. wig-Pig's-a: h. -: .5 Fry-?Rmin! van- '5 -: . m- ?cm-:5 -: I I Georgia Georgia has made remarkable progress recently in promoting demOCratic deveIOpment and rule of law, and has emerged as a regional leader in human rights. Georgian ambitions to align with Western norms are reflected in significant, modernizing reforms to the constitution and economy. Georgia has secured free-trade access to over 300 million consumers and has recently been awarded visa-free travel to the EU. Georgia is optimistic that Canada will continue to play a leading role in condemning the Russian occupation of two of its regions. Your visit will amplify Canadian reassurances and send a constructive signal to a regional ally with which Canada has very positive relations. Such a visit would be very well?received by the Georgian government and meetings would be secured at the highest-level. In addition to discussing prospective political and commercial engagement opportunities with a growing Canadian partner, you will meet with a number of civil society organizations (CSOs) with whom ANKRA has partnered with in the past; and could tour the South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) alongside the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM). Moldova An impetus to bilateral relations was given by the opening of the Moldovan Embassy in 2013 and subsequent high-level visits at the Foreign Minister level in both directions, There is an outstanding request for Moldova?s Foreign Minister to visit Ottawa this spring. With Canada and Moldova having recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations on February 20, a visit by you at this juncture would serve as a timely opportunity to reaffirm Canada?s ongoing support for Moldova and mark this important milestone. Such a visit would be exceptionally well-received by the Moldovan government and you will meet with senior officials (Le. Prime Minister and in Parliament). Given recent developments in Moldova, a visit would also provide an opportunity to reaffirm Canada?s support for Moldova?s sovereignty and territorial integrity and underline the importance of Moldova?s continued reform and European integration efforts to both domestic and regional stability. Your Arrival and MOving Forward 000019 in?: As this will be an evergreen document, in addition to the proposed responsibilities and activities outlined above and the events described in the attached Annex, we will take advantage of other upcoming opportunities to highlight Canada?s priorities and interests with your engagement. This year, given Canada?s 150th Anniversary, you may be asked to represent Canada at special celebrations across Europe. In Berlin, Brussels and in your travels across Europe, you will also meet with business leaders to promote our economic ties, as well as academics, think-tanks, and civil society organizations to discuss and promote issues such as inclusive governance, pluralism, and refugee policy. It will be important to report back to Misisons and Headquarters on the coutcomes of your visits to ensure follow up as needed. Your appointment is an unprecedented opportunity to elevate Canada?s representation at a critical juncture in our relations with the EU, its member nations, and with other nations in Europe. Your strong engagement on all of the issues discussed above and as events present themselves will reap important bene?ts for Canada. 000020