‘Europe and Canada are stronger together’: Carney pushes for deeper EU alliance

World canadaeuropean parliamentsecuritytechnologyTop Newsusa ‘Europe and Canada are stronger together’: Carney pushes for deeper EU alliance Canadian Prime Minister Carney Visits The European Parliament In Strasbourg Relevant News ‘Europe and Canada are stronger together’: Carney pushes for deeper EU alliance 17 September 2026 EU Parliament backs tougher rules to protect children from social media risks 17 September 2026 Larnaca parents accuse Transport Ministry of shifting school bus safety blame onto them 17 September 2026 Theodosis Pipis 17 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday she wanted to open the door for Canada to become the European Union’s first “associate member”. Today the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, took the floor in Strasbourg and spoke about this revelation to a full auditorium of enthusiastic European lawmakers. His speech focused on shared security and economic interests. Carney called for a fundamental deepening of Canada’s relationship with the European Union, arguing that shared democratic values and complementary economic strengths make the two sides natural allies in an increasingly uncertain world. The Canadian prime minister said sovereignty now depends on collective resilience, from defence and energy security to critical minerals, artificial intelligence and secure supply chains. “Europe and Canada are stronger together,” he said, warning that neither can withstand today’s geopolitical and economic pressures alone. He welcomed the EU’s proposal to explore an “alliance for the future”, including the possibility of Canada becoming the bloc’s first associate member. He outlined ambitions for closer strategic cooperation, seamless digital trade, deeper financial integration and stronger people-to-people ties, including Canadian participation in Erasmus+ and Horizon research programmes. The proposed partnership, he said, would build on CETA and existing strategic agreements, bringing together Canada’s energy and critical mineral resources with Europe’s market power, research capacity and regulatory influence. He closed his speech by stating that the partnership would be based on shared values and mutual resilience, rather than a new power bloc. “I also want to be precise about what I am not proposing. I am not proposing a third bloc in order to become a great power rival only with better manners,” he concluded hinting at European and Canadian frictions with USA President Donald Trump. Mark Carney and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in the subsequent press conference to underlined the ambition of a closer EU-Canada partnership, with Carney arguing that the two sides must combine their strengths to withstand a more dangerous and divided world. “The future is ours to write,” he said, warning that sovereignty now depends on resilience in areas ranging from critical minerals and semiconductors to energy, technology and defence. Carney confirmed that any future associate membership arrangement would be subject to debate and a vote in the Canadian Parliament, stressing that the process was only beginning and that this would not be a process that would lead to EU membership. With a Canada-EU summit planned for Montreal in October, he said the proposed alliance could make Canada “more sovereign, more prosperous, more sustainable, and stronger.” Metsola, meanwhile, described the deepening relationship as “a new exciting chapter” and said the European Parliament’s new office in Ottawa would bring Canadians and Europeans closer together, adding: “The world is changing, and together we will shape that change.” WHAT MIGHT THE NEW RELATIONSHIP INVOLVE? There is currently no such status as “associate member” set out in the European Union’s treaties — though various versions of an associate-type of membership have been floated in the bloc over the years. Most recently, Germany suggested Ukraine be an associate member as an interim stage to full accession, though the proposal failed to gain traction as some EU capitals pushed back. WHAT IS CANADA SEEKING? Carney is seeking new alliances amid repeated threats by U.S. President Donald Trump against Canada’s sovereignty. Both sides want to forge deeper cooperation to counter U.S. and Chinese economic dominance as well as preserve democracy and the rules-based international order, which they see as under threat. In her speech, von der Leyen said the two sides would create a “common prosperity and economic space”. This would include joint work on manufacturing, a tech alliance, integration of defence industrial bases, the Arctic, AI, energy and critical minerals. WHY MIGHT THE IDEA OF ‘ASSOCIATE MEMBER’ BE COMPLICATED? Implementing such an ‘associate’ status would be unprecedented and may be legally complex. Von der Leyen was speaking in her capacity as President of the European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm. It would fall on the EU member states to decide whether the idea flies. There is no suggestion von der Leyen is proposing enshrining the status of ‘associate member’ in EU treaties. That would require unanimity among all 27 capitals and ratification by all domestically. Canada and the EU already have a trade agreement, called CETA. More than a decade after the deal was struck and nine years since it provisionally entered into force, several EU countries still have not ratified it. If Canada wishes to become locked into the EU’s Single Market, Ottawa would need to reconcile Canada’s norms and regulations to match EU law. Canada would become a rule-taker with no say on policy if it entered the Single Market without full membership like Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein who are members of the European Economic Area. Canada’s rules have historically been geared towards its biggest trade partner, the United States. Read more: Explainer: EU chief wants Canada to become an ‘associate member’. What does that mean? 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