Representatives of the Polish Canadian Chamber of Commerce — President Bernhard L.Otterstein and Vice President George Havaris — had the pleasure of participating in the Canada–EU SAFE Conference held in Budapest on May 12–13, organized by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hungary with the support of the Government of Canada.

The conference brought together senior policymakers, defence industry leaders, and strategic partners from Canada and across Europe to discuss the industrial and strategic implications of the EU SAFE framework at a critical moment for Europe’s security and industrial readiness.

What stood out throughout the discussions was how quickly the conversation around European and Canadian defence cooperation is evolving. Established Tier 1 Canadian and European defence companies, policymakers, and emerging firms all came together to better understand the future of trusted industrial partnerships, resilient supply chains, sovereign capabilities, and long-term transatlantic strategic alignment.

A key takeaway from the event was that Canada’s participation in the SAFE programme is no longer viewed as a future possibility, but as a practical opportunity to create real business partnerships, market access, and scalable defence capabilities on both sides of the Atlantic.

PCCC is also very pleased that our member companies, including CAE and Galvion participated in this important event.

Thank you to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hungary and all organizers for creating such a valuable platform for dialogue and cooperation.