Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has seized Europe’s political spotlight this week with his clearest overtures yet towards the European Union (EU), days before he is set to join senior EU officials at a European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg.
Carney said overnight that he’s seeking a “unique alliance” between Canada and the European Union but not full membership of the bloc, after the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that Ottawa was seeking formal talks with Brussels on “associate” EU membership.
The reports come just ahead of Carney’s visit to Strasbourg, where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to flesh out the EU’s vision for a deeper relationship with Canada during her annual State of the Union speech on Wednesday, according to EU officials.
It’s the latest in a series of public signs of rapprochement. Carney became the first non-European leader to attend a European Political Community (EPC) summit in May, and Canadian ministers have recently stepped up their participation in EU ministerial meetings.
The shift comes as Canada faces growing economic and political pressure from its southern neighbour. US President Donald Trump’s tariff war has hit $20 billion worth of Canadian products with 50% tariffs, while his repeated threats to make Canada the 51st US state have prompted Ottawa to rethink its security and defence alliances.
