In a pointed appeal for unity at a time of rising global tension, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called on the European Union to deepen its partnership with Canada, arguing that the two share core values and “were stronger together”.
Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Carney said Canada “welcomes the ambition” behind a proposal for the country to become the EU’s first “associate member”.
The proposal was announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen yesterday.
“We are not fair-weather allies. We do not pursue zero-sum deals,” Mr Carney told the parliament.
“We hold common values for which we have always fought, and in whose defence we must always remain vigilant.
“Canada and Europe are each strong. Europe and Canada are stronger together.”
Mr Carney also called for closer cooperation on critical minerals, defence and AI.
Watch: Canada welcomes EU ambition for it to become ‘associate member’
Earlier, the European Commission insisted the initiative is not directed at the United States, after President Donald Trump warned he could retaliate over the plan.
“As our president made clear yesterday, the proposed strengthening of our partnership with Canada is not against anyone else, but for our common strength,” the commission’s trade spokesperson Olof Gill said when asked about Mr Trump’s threat.
Ms von der Leyen’s pitch comes as both Canada and the European Union look to pivot away from an aggressive United States under Mr Trump’s leadership.
“I think it’s laughable,” Mr Trump told reporters when asked about the plan.
“If they do that, if I think it’s at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe, on many things.”
He added: “If it’s a good intention, that’s fine. If it’s a bad intention, we’ll put very heavy tariffs on Europe, which is a possibility.”
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Ms von der Leyen urged Mr Carney to expand cooperation in areas including technology, defence and energy, as the Canadian leader became the first non-European head of government to attend the annual State of the European Union speech.
Addressing the chamber in Strasbourg, she said democracies were confronting a “fracture in the international rules-based system,” and that Brussels and Ottawa should tighten their links in response.
“I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU,” Ms von der Leyen told the Canadian PM, drawing a standing ovation in the chamber.
(L-R) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Canadian PM Mark Carney in Strasbourg yesterday
A broader alliance
Mr Carney has been pushing for closer ties with the European Union as Canada is pulled further into a trade war with the United States.
His trip to Brussels is intended to serve as a catalyst ahead of an EU-Canada summit in Montreal next month.
Mr Carney has argued that middle powers must build tighter partnerships in a world shaped by the influence of Russia, China and the United States.
For its part, the EU is eager to keep a strong relationship with Mr Carney: Canada is rich in critical raw materials, is a reliable member of the transatlantic alliance and has been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022.
The European Commission has also pointed to potential for joint work in cybersecurity, quantum computing and energy.
However, the associate membership idea has caught member states off guard.
No such partnership model exists in the Lisbon Treaty — and while the two sides are already bound by the trade agreement known as CETA, it still has not been ratified by 10 member states, including Ireland.
Ms von der Leyen said the moment had come to broaden cooperation beyond trade into what she described as an “alliance for the future” and to “bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible”.
“We will work on intelligent manufacturing. We will create a tech alliance. We will integrate defence industrial bases. We will make the Arctic a flagship joint project,” she said.
She also cited energy, critical minerals, batteries, AI, cyber and economic security as additional areas for cooperation.
“This is a partnership not against anyone else, but for our common strength,” she said.
EU ‘opening door’ for Canada to become first ‘associate member’
Both the EU and Canada, however, have been buffeted by tariffs and territorial threats from the US and by competition from China.
“In a more dangerous and divided world, Canada is forging stronger relationships with trusted partners,” the Canadian prime minister’s office said in a statement.
What’s in a name
Although EU treaties do not provide for an “associate member” status, the concept was first raised this year by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in relation to Ukraine.
That proposal — which met a cold reception from a country seeking full membership — would have allowed Ukraine to attend the bloc’s summits and place a representative within the European Commission.
It would also have opened access to parts of the EU budget, but without full voting rights.
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“We don’t really know yet what it means,” said Tobias Cremer, a center-left European MEP from Germany and the main sponsor of a resolution urging stronger EU-Canada cooperation, speaking after Ms von der Leyen’s “associate membership” pitch.
Under EU rules, any partnership with a third country requires approval by member states, and it remains unclear how much backing Ms von der Leyen’s proposal would draw from national capitals.
This year Canada became the first non-EU country to join a flagship defence loan programme.
After Ms von der Leyen’s address to the European Parliament yesterday, Mr Carney flew to Britain for his first meeting with new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
They attended a football match between Everton and Wolves together before Mr Carney returned to Strasbourg for his speech this morning.
Mark Carney attended an Everton football match with Andy Burnham yesterday
Irish EU Presidency will most likely lead discussions on Canada, says minister
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs Thomas Byrne described the in vitation to Canada to become an associate EU member as a “very interesting proposal”.
Mr Byrne said the EU, including Ireland, already has an “incredibly close relationship” with Canada, and it is to be determined how to “build” on that.
He said that as far as EU-Canada relations go, it is to “go as far as we can,” short of Canada joining the European Union “in any real way”.
Minister Byrne said Canada would not become part of the Common Agricultural Policy, adding that “it’s hard to see how you would even have free movement of people”.
He said like any European Commission proposal, it will have to go before the leaders of the 27 EU member states at the next European Council meeting, as well as the European Parliament.
“But, there is huge warmth towards Canada…and that’s across the political divide.”
He said he “supposed” that the Irish presidency of the EU will be “leading on the discussions” on associate Canadian membership “between now and any summit between the EU and Canada”.
“It’s a very, very exciting time,” Mr Byrne said.
“I’d say if you asked the German government directly, it would be very strongly in favour of the deepest possible relationship with Canada, that can only be a fact,” he said in response to Berlin questioning whether the term associate member is appropriate.
Additional reporting Tony Connelly
