Mark Carney will address the European Parliament next month as Canada and the EU seek closer ties as the split with the US escalates under President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The Canadian Prime Minister will address the European Parliament on September 17 and attend European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech, which sets out the EU’s policy priorities and political direction, a day prior.
While inviting guests of honour is not uncommon, Carney’s invitation is more political than in previous years, when Brussels opted for civil society figures and focused on Ukraine. The timing also follows Carney’s pledge to seek an ever-closer partnership with the EU as the US-Canada trade war escalates in a historic clash between the two.
“The Prime Minister's important visit will be an opportunity to deepen EU-Canada ties and strengthen our bond,” Metsola wrote on X on Wednesday.
Last week, trade talks between Canada and the US collapsed after months of difficult negotiations, with Ottawa accusing Washington of interfering in its sovereignty by demanding concessions on the French language, limiting its ability to strike separate trade deals and making excessive demands with too little in return.
