Carney announces first contract awarded to Canadian company under SAFE agreement with EU

EVIAN-LES-BAINS — Montreal-based Marconi Technologies will be the first Canadian company to be awarded a contract under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) agreement, a European defence procurement program with 150 billion euros in financing at its disposal.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the more than $10-million contract ahead of his first meeting at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Evian, France on Monday. Marconi will supply made-in-Canada tactical radios for the Polish army, in partnership with Polish-based company Enamor International.

Deliveries are expected later this year and will continue until 2030.

SAFE was adopted by the Council of the European Union in May 2025, as the continent attempts to boost its defence industrial and technological capabilities.

Canada officially joined SAFE in May of this year and is the only non-European country to gain membership in the procurement program.

The EU is expected to unlock nearly 800 billion euros in spending over the next four years to boost its defence readiness.

Carney is seeking closer ties with European counterparts, in a bid to rely less on trade with the U.S. On Friday, Carney signed an intelligence sharing agreement with France.

During his meeting with EU President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council António Costa, Carney said the contract is the first “concrete example” of the SAFE partnership and said there will be “many more.”

Carney also accepted the EU’s invitation for Canada to co-chair the OceanEye International Alliance, the EU’s ocean observation initiative.

“We are an ocean apart, but we have never been closer,” remarked von der Leyan, adding that Canada and the EU will be focused on a digital trade agreement, critical war materials and energy certainty during their meeting at the G7.

Carney and von der Leyan, along with Costa, agreed to remain in close contact. The leaders will meet again at the Canada-EU Summit, which is scheduled to take place in Canada this fall, from October 29 to 30.

National Post

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here.