Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet with the French president this week, showcasing efforts to strengthen energy and defence ties with the European ally.
The Prime Minister’s Office announced Carney will visit Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, a French territory off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, on Sept. 20 where he’ll meet with President Emmanuel Macron.
The PMO says the pair will discuss deepening the countries’ partnership in “strategic sectors,” including aerospace, energy, critical minerals, and advanced technologies such as quantum, satellites and supercomputing.
Carney’s planned visit comes as the Wall Street Journal reports the prime minister is speeding up Canada’s pivot to Europe. It’s reported he’s even suggested to European leaders that Canada take on the title: “Associate Member of the European Union.”
Global News has reached out to the PMO, Macron’s office and the European Parliament for comment.
Carney’s visit with Macron is set to take place just days after the prime minister meets with his U.K. counterpart for the first time, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Much like Macron, the two leaders are expected to discuss defence, security, energy and AI.
During his trip to Europe that begins Tuesday, Carney will also address the European Parliament in Strasbourg and attend the State of the European Union address.
Get breaking National news
Earlier this week, the EU’s ambassador to Canada said the bloc is crafting a new partnership with Ottawa unlike anything that currently exists, but did not provide specifics.
“What we have in mind is something different from what we have with other countries,” Geneviève Tuts said in an interview Wednesday with The Canadian Press. “That will be something unique.”
That partnership is still being carved out, but Tuts said it won’t look exactly like the arrangements the EU has with its neighbours like Switzerland and the U.K.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who speaks with Carney regularly, signalled support for Canada having a stronger relationship with the EU.
“Wouldn’t it be lovely if Canada was the 28th state of the European Union rather than the 51st state of the United States,” Stubb said during a speech in June.
The idea will be discussed when Carney visits this week, an invitation Tuts said was a rare gesture for a non-European leader.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized both Carney’s trip and the report the prime minister is pursuing Canada becoming an “associate member” of the EU.
“Mark Carney could not be more out of touch,” Poilievre said Sunday in a post on X.
Poilievre went on to say any such deal would not be about diversifying trade, and questioned if European border policies would apply in Canada or if small businesses would be “buried under the red tape of Eurocrats.”
He added he would ask these questions in Parliament but said the House of Commons is on summer break until Sept. 21.
The Opposition leader called on Carney to confirm if the Wall Street Journal report was true.
“We will NEVER be the 51st U.S. state. And we will NEVER be the 28th EU state,” Poilievre said.
No deal is expected at the meeting, only discussions, but Tuts said Brussels would then consult with member states on the deal. Canada would do the same with its provinces and territories. A possible announcement could, however, come at a late-October summit.
Carney has made it no secret he wants closer economic, security and political ties with the EU as Canada’s relationship with the U.S. continues to worsen amid the trade war.
“We will be looking to use the coming months to explore a deepening of that partnership across a broad range of areas and we’ll have more to say to that (next week) in Strasbourg,” Carney told reporters in Banff, Alta., this past Thursday, where his cabinet was gathering for a planning session.
Experts have said the EU is the “most obvious partner” in diversifying Canada’s trading relationships.
Christian Leuprecht told Global News that just as Canada could benefit from sourcing more of its military purchases from Europe as it works to dramatically boost defence spending, Europe could benefit from Canada’s supply of liquefied natural gas, oil and critical minerals.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump said Canada wants to reach a deal with the U.S. “very badly” and suggested an agreement could come “fairly soon” if Ottawa addresses his concerns about agricultural trade.
—with files from Global News’ Alex Boutillier and The Canadian Press
Carney has said that he wants to explore Canada becoming an “Associate member” of the EU and has apparently been in negotiations with Macron for several months on the possibility of joining the EU.
THAT would be a disaster for Canada. The EU is falling apart, the economic state is dire and there is infighting between member nations over mass migration. The EU courts exert an enormous amount of pressure on member states and that would likely extend to Canada as well as fishing rights and many other negatives for Canadians. Our constitution would be in jeopardy as we would have to adhere to EU rulings etc. way too many negatives. Not even considering that Carney has no mandate to join the EU and any such move must go through parliament and likely a vote by Canadians. Anything else is just totalitarianism by Carney.
So, did Canadians vote to integrate with the totalitarian EU? They don’t have representative democracy….but then again neither does Canada. Democracy is a failure…
The good thing is I see I can find a beautiful woman on comments board
@Me. First step-Carney signed the MOU re the pipeline with Alberta ensuring they were on board with carbon capture. Second step-he got buy-in from BC. The third step is occurring now. These projects take time and there is incredible inertia in this country which slows down big projects. Carney is trying to overcome it.
@Ben….Its been 18 months and nothing has happened. It’s the very consulting, politics, and other red tape maintained by this Liberal government that is the issue. 18 months and nothing. Carney got into power by scaring everyone and then lying about building at unprecedented rates and spouting off about major projects. 18 months and we still have to listen to this and Liberals like you keep believing he is going to deliver. In another 18 months of nothing are you still going to be supporting this guy?
“Beautiful women are waiting to say hello—join us today! 💋” …………………………………………………..> fillboards.com/girls33
Nobody is talking about Canada becoming a member of the EU. It is not even possible under the existing rules. Yet Poilievre is out there spreading misinformation that eurocrats will run run Canada. This is precisely why he is not a leader. Carney is diversifying trade and Poilievre is trying to score political points.
Oh,shut your pie hole,PP
PP attacks the EU instead of trump.
What a dolt.
Is he the best the cons have to offer?
lolololol…
No wonder Libbies back PP for Con “leader.”
let me get this straight. we back out of a us deal that would save auto, steel,lumber, and tool and die because of our sovereignty then we give up our sovereignty the the eu. make it make sense
@ disappointed: Of course this trumper doesn’t even mention tariffs.
What an azzhole trumper.
I wish this globe trotter would take a hard look around Canada and do what a real Prime Minister should, and that is recognise the burden that Canadian taxpayers are carrying. Record food bank visits per month, an ongoing affordability crisis, foreclosures, lost jobs, graduates that can’t escape minimum wage, hungry veterans, failing healthcare systems, and don’t get me started on how the disabled have been neglected while $25.8 B was sent to one European country.
Air Liberal. Offering non stop ,free flights to the most luxurious vacation spots in the world.
Please Note : Free flights are for Liberal Party Members Only and include catering, entertainment, additional transportation, party favors, alcohol,drugs and prophylactics
Carney on another vacation. UK, Europe .I’m sure his itinerary will grow a little longer over the next day or two.
Bill another 100k in food and party supplies to the taxpayers, not much to do in Canada since there is no deal in the works so time to take a little RnR.
I wonder if Carney will give Macron the Trudeau Junk Rub Greeting.
“Pleased to meet you and meat to please you,Emmanuel ”
“Bonjour Justin !!! Please stay for dinner and have a taste of my Saucisson.”
It’s me the king, welcome to Joly old England you wankers, carn and macaroni
Please explain this, please explain that , the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain, two hundred word comments, I’m sick of your moronic banter, are you useless politicians, get r done, shut up, your giving everyone a headache
@Gord L please advise us all what Canada manufactures to sell to the rest of the world in Metric ??? And what exports have increased under Carney ???
I’ll wait for your response, I don’t expect one by the way. That is if you’re not just another liberal paid troll.
Fugging wankers, tossers, twats and that’s being polite
You gotta be an inbred from europe, before that some tenth world shathole country
best, the village idiot balz deep in your mom’s azz, hahaha hahaha 🤣
Perhaps Carney should be working on the trade deal with the USA instead of hanging out at TIFF with Trudeau and Katy.
All of the ‘nothing’ that Carney is doing sure seems to have the mouth-breathers from who knows where lit right up.
Better call the wambulance for them.
Anonymous the village idiot is on a roll
Anonymous the village idiot…you sure have a lot to say considering your a dimwitted foreigner who somehow got lucky and entered Canada years ago.
Jan. Harper was a disaster. From his failed economic policies to his inability to build a pipeline to his failed changes to the Criminal Code. Apart from the 2% reduction in GST I can’t think of anything that Harper did that survived. Harper was one of our most ineffecive PMs. I know that’s hard for Cons to take, but its a fact.
Carney needs to open parliament and stand up in the commons and answer questions. The only person he should be having a meeting with is Trump and getting Canada a deal about these tariffs. France and the UK has its own big problems their economies are nearly as bad as ours. The EU countries have already made deals with Trump and they won’t do anything to jeopardize that because they know Trump can and will make things worse for them.
Hey Gord. By every economic measure Canada was doing better under Harper as PM then Trudeau or now Carney. Facts don’t lie. Why is homelessness and food bank use as all time hung in Canada, or unemployment. Carney has not delivered anything now in 18 months.
Anonymous and your fellow travellors. Prove me wrong. Harper was the worst PM we’ve had since Diefenbaker. He crippled government revenue resulting in deficit while he agreed to the NATO 2% of GDP knowing we would never meet it. Calling me stupid doesn’t cut it. Prove me wrong or shut up.
Canada was much more prosperous under Harper. Just proved you wrong…..wasn’t hard.
You anti-Carney guys are idiots. Lots of people advise PMs, look at the range of people sdvising Carney. Carney differs from Trudeau and Harper and is doing much better than either of them. Prove me wrong.
Anonymous. If only you kept your mouth shut (hands off the keyboard) no one would know how much a dimwit you are….sigh.
Anononymous is speaking everyone ! Of course anonymous is an idiot, but he is speaking !
@Gord L – Carneys was Trudeau’s “economic advisor “ from 2020 – 2025. His record speaks for himself.
Canada wealth is because of its proximity to the USA. Go see how middle class UK/France live. It is worse then NFLD with poverty levels Sorry if going “Elbows Up” means being poor then not interested.
Gord, how stupid are you? Obviously very, very, very stupid!
I’m feeling the toilet swirl in Canada. 51!
You guys who complain about Carney don’t know how good we’ve got it right now. We had Justin Trudeau’s “the budget will balance itself” after Harper’s failed “trickle down” approach. The only difference is that Trudeau bought, doubled, and extended a pipeline while Harper did nothing for Alberta. Carney was elected and hit the ground running focused on diversifying away from the US, which he has done. Things aren’t great yet, but what did you expect when our biggest trade partner attacked us with tariffs. We’re far better off with Carney than we were under Harper, Trudeau, or would be under Poilievre or whoever replaces him.
Carney promise last September (2025) the pipeline to BC would break down in fall 2026. Still nothing is going on and his MPO has not approved one project to commence.
cunada is the ball and chain, many many pipelines could have been built, streets paved with fcking golf, you libbies will never ever know up from down
@Ben. Pp can’t keep his promises, he wasn’t elected. Carney was elected so we will hold him to his promises.
Canadians lives are not better after 18 months of Careny as PM. Nor have they been better since 2015. Libs have excuses for delivering and nothing more.
Anonymous is a village idiot
Ben Dover. If you’re real and not just a troll bot, do you reallt believe that metric production is a barrier? Canadian companies already produce and sell to the rest of the world in metric. Our exports to non-US markets have increased because Carney is PM. Producing in metric isn’t a barrier.
Referendum please because I sure don’t want to be part of the EU
@Vanessa. First of all, Carney is a politician, so promised things just like Poilievre did. Secondly, let’s look at one project-a pipeline through BC. First he had to get an agreement with Alberta which sort of satisfied the environmentalists. Then he had to get buy-in from BC. My point is, all these processes take time, and there is a lot of inertia which must be overcome. Look at Doug Guzman’s comments.
Carney tastes so good in my mouth.
What L I b t a r d s forget is for Canada to sell into Europe industries would have to tool up to a metric system were still in feet & inches here because our biggest trade partner ( the one we should be signing deals with) works in imperial that comes at a huge cost to industry let’s face it its never going to happen just more lip service from Carney.
@Marilyn. I told you already Muslim values are Canadian values.
Ford and Carney think France will buy their horrible wine. What products will Canada sell to France? I might cross back as Carney isn’t delivering and I am running 3rd in my riding in Sarnia.
Europe already had its civilization erased by zombie apocalypse, I want nothing to do with them, be prepared zombies coming here next
PP is in Somalia looking for trade dealsw.
@Ben. Respectfully, Carney promised Canada would get stuff done with speeds never seen before. He has not broken ground on 1 project in over 18 months. He made the promise.
PP still in Detroit?
What a clown.
As for previous idiotic comment, I crossed the floor to Carney azzhole.
Fact.
It is obvious Carney had no plan. Just plays politics. Won’t do well for Canadians.
@Me. Just to let you know, pipelines can’t be built at the drop of a hat. If they were, the Keystone pipeline, which has had it’s Canadian portion completed, would be pumping oil. There are consultations, approvals, political buy in, land acquisition, engineering, etc. involved.
@Jd. Sure they do. Keep dreaming. Did you forget Geography. lol
@Marylin. I heard you are running third in the Sarnia riding. What is your plan after the next election?
A whole lot of Carny big talking nothing. No pipelines, no major projects started, no change in the military, no change in immigration issues, no breakdown of interprovincial trade barriers, no planes, no boats, no manufacturing, no trade deal with the USA which we need. A whole lot of liberal hot wind and big talk and no show. When this term is over, the liberals will still have done nothing and they will blame all their inaction and the incompetence on Trump and the liberal sheep will just eat it up.
PP fans on here are hilarious.
Though he did look adorable at the Stampede in his Liberace gown.
How many will quit on PP this week?
Yves: You are fucked in the head.
France has lots.
France has little to offer Canada. Go see how the middle class lives which Isn’t good. Canadas wealth and prosperity is tied to the USA. Carney needs to understand that.
A good negotiator never walks away from the table. That stops the process. Carney walked away for basically political considerations. Carney is just playing games as he has no clue on how to negotiate. Canadians will suffer because of his incompetence. Also mid terms won’t change a thing, Trump is still POTUS for over 2 more years.
Very little of Carneys trips have amounted to much. Carney needs to focus on the most important relationship to Canada which is the USA. Trump was selected as POTUS by the American citizens. It is time for Carney to deliver as he promised. EU countries just humour Carney and like a sucker Carney ends up being a total fool.
Uh no. The last think I want is EU admission.
Carney’s trips have resulted in a sizeable increase in foreign direct investment and increasing trade with non-US countries. Most of the comments below read “let’s surrender.”
Not one Canadian voted for this! Carnage Carney is a dangerous man!! When will the Liberal cult realize they fucked up??
@5:06 you talking about your parents and relatives
Dumb and Dumber. Carney and Macaroon
18 months later Carney has delivered nothing.
51 please. We’re fked here in Canada, we will get the garbage people they don’t want.
France, yeah that will work, it’s just the Atlantic to navigate. Such an idiot…
Two goofs don’t make a right. 11 years of decline in Canada continues.
Anonymous Numpty has a nice ring too it.
Anonymous the village idiot….what did the family and friends in U.K. call you? Pillock, Div, or Prat ?
Carney is doing exactly as he should…getting business with other countries that are not unreliable, offensive and ignorant bullies. We want contracts in pen not from signed pencil and from someone who does not honour agreements.
We the people should vote on that
@ 2:45 Anonymous – ‘Eurotrash’ is much more beneficial for the country than inbred, ignorant racists.
Does anyone recall voting to join the EU ? I sure don’t. Yet reports are that Carney has been negotiating Canada’s joining the EU. Do we still live in a free and democratic country where our parliament debates and discusses such things and then Canadians get to vote on anything like joining the EU, or do we live in a Liberal dictatorship where such things are imposed on us, without any vote from Canadians.
Maybe he could tell us what he going to trade with French
Wines are out so is farm produce dairy cheese and so forth
EU has most controlled food production even worse than Canada
We don’t have oil or gas to sell them nor any high tech or cars , airplanes train car nothing needed from here!
This just make feel good meeting with European socialist.
All (talk&meetings) – NO REAL ACTION………flying around on planes…..😳
All “talk&meetings” NO REAL ACTION……..😳
Does this PM ever stay in Canada for more than 24 hrs??
All he does does is travel!!
Clowney can’t get a deal from the USA so maybe he wants to buy more French goods.it would be funny if not so grim for Canada.
Must be the start of the New World Order that Carney and Trudeau are so fond of and using Canada as the trial.
To bad the Prime Minister can stand up to the Canadian people like he should be instead of jetting around on the taxpayer dollars just to vitriol signal that he working hard. Just another speech coming while Canadians cost of living continues to climb!
I have asked this question before and still have got no answers from the Liberals.
Name one positive thing the Liberals have done in the past 12 years as government?
Cheers all and have a positive day!
Yeah sure let’s join forces with countries that self imploded over the last decade, I’m sure Canada will fit right in.
The EU, especially France and Germany, is falling apart economically, socially and politically. Tying Canada to such a failing entity as the EU makes absolutely no sense and even exporting to the EU will be extremely costly compared to trading with the US which of course is located on the same continent. Whereas the EU is across a vast ocean.
The great liberal sell off of Canada has begun
Never stop hating, I’ve watched left destroy this country for a long time
Remember when Trudeau told our vets that they were asking for more than he could give? Well now Carney has just announced that he will be giving $40.1 million to vets …. Not Canadian vets ….. Ukranian vets !!!
I’m coming to believe this issue is more about personalities between Carney and Trump than it does with a trade deal ..
As long as the deal is good for canada, why not? More options isn’t a bad thing people.
Some of you need to have a therapy sense and tell them why you hate as much as you do. I bet you they’d tell you to go on meds and quit watching so much news from Facebook and tic tok. In fact put your phone down for a month. It would do you some good.
Any kind of adult level communication is pretty much impossible from the US these days. It’s a one boy show right now. Don’t blame these two for discussing options.
You need that like you need a hole in the head.
Don’t want to be connected to eurotrash, next thing you know they’ll be sending us ten million inbreds a year
Carney has more investments in the EU than he does in Canada so it makes sense