Jeffrey Marder, Ambassador of Canada to Spain and Andorra
Message
It is an honour to serve as Canada’s Ambassador to Spain and Andorra.
True likeminded partners, Canada and Spain enjoy a dynamic and vibrant transatlantic relationship that encompasses defence cooperation, multilateral collaboration, shared support for a rules-based international system, growing trade and investment flows and increasing people-to-people ties.
Indeed, the roots of our exchanges go back some 500 years when Basque whalers would spend several months each season on the shores of Labrador, and Spanish explorers reached as far as Canada’s Pacific coast. Today’s trade relationship is framed by CETA, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade agreement between Canada and the EU, of which Spain was an early and vocal supporter. Under CETA, bilateral merchandise trade increased by more than 90% between 2017 and 2023. Two-way investment flows have also been strengthened by the agreement. Canada and Spain continue to be strong supporters of a rules-based system of international trade. Our strong collaboration in science, technology and innovation is poised for growth in view of Canada’s recent association with the Horizon Europe programme.
Canada and Spain are close partners in defence in the context of NATO. Spanish soldiers are currently serving side by side with Canadians in the Canadian-led, Multinational Brigade in Latvia, jointly contributing to NATO deterrence and defence measures on NATO’s Eastern Flank. Together, we are giving weight to NATO’s response to Russia’s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea and full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The promotion and protection of democracy and human rights are at the core of our respective foreign policies. This has led to close collaboration between Canada and Spain in the United Nations human rights system and in the context of many other initiatives, including the Equal Rights Coalition, the Media Freedom Coalition, the Freedom Online Coalition, International IDEA and the Community of Democracies. Canada and Spain also both proudly advance feminist foreign policies.
Canada’s diplomatic relations with Andorra are more recent, but our shared values have made our two countries solid multilateral partners, including in the Francophonie and for the promotion of human rights and gender equality. I look forward to seeing this relationship continue to grow, not least through two-way cultural exchanges and the opportunities stemming from our Youth Mobility Agreement.
At the same time as collaboration between government, business, academic institutions, cultural organizations and civil society drives these bilateral relationships, increasing numbers of Canadians, Spaniards and Andorrans are crossing the Atlantic as tourists. We are pleased to provide consular services to Canadians across Spain and Andorra from three points of service, the Embassy in Madrid, and Consulates in Barcelona and Málaga, the latter headed by an Honorary Consul.
My team and I are committed to providing high-quality and timely service to Canadians and strengthening the already dynamic relationships Canada enjoys with Spain and Andorra. I invite to you to follow the Embassy’s activities at:
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Jeffrey Marder
Ambassador of Canada to Spain and Andorra
Biography
Jeffrey Marder (BA Hons [History], University of Western Ontario, 1990; MA [History], Simon Fraser University, 1996) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1997. In Ottawa, he has held assignments as Organization of American States coordinator in the Mexico and Inter-American Affairs Division, deputy director of the Aboriginal and Circumpolar Affairs Division, director of the South America and Inter-American Relations Division, director of the Central American and Caribbean Relations Division and director of the United Nations Division. Abroad, Mr. Marder has served as junior adviser to the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York City, second secretary in Santiago and head of public affairs in Mexico City. He was also ambassador to Portugal from 2014 to 2018. Most recently, he served as executive director of the Human Rights and Indigenous Affairs Policy Division.
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