Prime Minister Mark Carney says deeper cooperation and trade between Canada and the European Union can bolster sovereignty on both sides of the Atlantic and help create the “next just, stable, and prosperous world order.”
Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France Thursday morning, Carney made a pitch for stronger economic ties with the EU in industries like artificial intelligence, critical minerals and defence.
“I 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,” Carney said.
“We do not seek power to dominate others. On the contrary, we are pursuing resilience so that no one can control our open markets, impair our sovereignty, threaten our territorial integrity, or undermine our freedoms, our democracies, our rule of law.”
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) trickled in to Carney’s speech Thursday morning, with the prime minister’s speech receiving applause and a standing ovation from the 791-member legislature. One legislator received jeers from his peers for chanting “USA! USA!” as Carney took the podium. The prime minister appeared to hear the chant, but did not acknowledge it.
But the U.S. under Trump was very present in Carney’s remarks to the European politicians — albeit only in indirect references.
“Just as dominance is the arrogance of the hegemon, perfection is the enemy of the good. The economics are clear: the leverage of the powerful in an exploitive relationship collapses well before complete independence is achieved. Diversity confers advantage,” Carney said.
“The objective is not self-sufficiency. It is collective resilience.”
Carney’s speech came as Canada and the EU explore deepening political, security and economic ties. That process started in June 2025, but has accelerated with both Canadian and EU officials hinting at a significant new formal partnership over and above the Canada-EU Trade Agreement (CETA).
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Achim Hurrelmann, the co-director of Carleton University’s Centre for European Studies, told Global News in an interview that there’s both optimism and opportunities for both sides of this new relationship.
“The relationship to Europe is an important example of this diversification of Canadian economic relations and also of the collaboration of middle powers that Carney called for in his Davos speech,” Hurrelmann said Thursday.
“And from a European perspective, working with Canada is an example of building what the Europeans like to call strategic autonomy, so becoming less dependent on the U.S. when it comes to defence, on Russia when it comes to energy, on China when it comes to strategic minerals. They see the relationship to Canada as something that can make a positive difference here.”
On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was inviting Carney to “open the door” to becoming the EU’s first “associate member” — a designation that does not currently have a basis in the economic and political bloc’s treaty.
Later that day, Trump said if Canada becomes the first associate member of the European Union it could be a “hostile act.”
Speaking to reporters in North Carolina, the president said if it’s done with “bad intentions” he will “put very heavy tariffs on Europe.”
Trump also called Canada a “terrible trade partner” after earlier Wednesday signing a memorandum directing federal agencies overseeing government procurement in the United States to remove all products of Canadian origin.
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At a press conference with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Carney said the push for an “alliance for the future” with Europe is not a reaction to Trump’s hostile actions on trade, but a “positive” project aimed strengthening both sides of the Atlantic.
“This is about building,” Carney told reporters.
“It will make Europe stronger, it will make Canada stronger. It will make, I’ll speak for Canada, Canada a better partner with the United States. And with respect to sovereignty …. we are looking for partnerships that are complimentary, that reinforce our sovereignty. And that’s what’s on offer here.”
The potential “associate member” designation has taken up much of the political conversation in Canada. But Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s ambassador to the EU and a former cabinet minister, told reporters that Ottawa is more focused working with the Europeans to strengthen partnerships in specific sectors.
Those include energy and natural resources, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and defence procurement.
Carney said that what the EU calls the new relationship with Canada is up to European politicians. But he underlined that whatever alliance emerges from talks between Ottawa and Brussels will be debated by Parliament and put to a vote.
“Yes, we will have a series of debates, I’m sure, in Parliament, relevant committees, and ultimately there will be a vote in the Canadian Parliament for the final structure of the alliance that we’re working on,” Carney told reporters.
“The next important point is the summit, European-Canada summit in Montreal on the 29th and 30th of October, but it will all roll out transparently.”
With a file from the Canadian Press and Global’s David Akin and Eric Sorensen.
Did he have a closeup vid of his anus to play on big screen to a round of applause from Eu delegates
During World Wars I and II, Canada paid an enormous price in blood on European soil, and tens of thousands of Canadian men never returned home.
Now Canada is once again being drawn toward closer association with impoverished and destitute European nations. From what I have personally seen in Europe, even a dog in America enjoys a better standard of living than many European citizens.
This kind of association will bring nothing but more hardship to the Canadian people.
Carney seems to be full of slogans. But no action or results.
An “Associate” membership, while not the goal in new negotiations with the EU, would probably be an advantageous relationship for both parties…if not, then simply a sign of a desire for more reciprocity and and a good-natured alliance
@ Butch A. – The minimum wage in 20 US states is only $7.25/hour. In the EU those wage earners would be much better paid and entitled to the vacation time that I listed.
In the EU someone at your level would be getting more than 6 weeks but do go on….
@Butch a. If you are from the US, six weeks of vacation is unusual Overall stats indicate that in the US, they get less vacation than Canada or the EU. And labour rights in the US are non existent.
Look up “the bulldozer revolution”. It solved all the people problems years ago.
You libs are as dumb as a bag of potatoes! You never fail to amaze me, that yes you can actually get dumber!
@Anonymous. I get 6 weeks vacation now. Started with 4, live in the USA.
Was his pants down to ankles giving speech? Bend and spread after finished speech?
CDS. Carney derangement syndrome. Elbows up Cons. Hahahaha.
@ Winston Smith 1984 – Germans are entitled to at least 20 vacation days per year. Danes get 25 days per year. The Swiss get the same 4 weeks minimum as the Germans.
Telling only half of the story is a form of misinformation.
Carney wants to live his green fantasies by joining the EU. Has anyone seen how high gas and energy prices are in the EU.
the irony is incredible. no eu country has soveriegnty. get this 1 kg of eye of round beef in cologne germany is 28.30 euro thats 20.72 cad per pound. in denmark its cheap only 17.52 per pound the most expensive is zurik 43.73 per pound. think its unaffordable in canada you aint seen nothing. and europe is the most protectionist trading block in the world.
@Anonymous 1105 am. Not sure what figures you are using. The European Union imports over 5% of our total exports. The UK imports over 9%. We can export more to both these entities. That’s the point, to diversify our trade by increasing trade anywhere but the US.
There is costs and commitments joining the EU. Maybe Carney can disclose those to Canadians so that an informed choice can be made.
Anonymous the village idiot….commenting with your big yap on every article….everyday….must be lonely in your world.
Let’s get it out there corruption is rife with this government, why are we not being told how much this will cost Canada rumoured to be $80-$90 billion. How do we compete with the extra transport costs attributed to exporting to Europe ?
Europe works in the Metric system Canada is for the biggest part still works in imperial. So when Carney makes these speeches before anyone except of course Canadians he needs to be honest and not hide the facts.
Anonymous the village idiot….the only poop being thrown is at you, you big dumbbell….
Look at all of the angry monkeys from who knows where showing up just to fling their poop at commenters with rational opinions.
The EU can anchor Carney’s New World Order. Their creation of this new associate member status allows other countries to join in the Middle Powers group Carney has spoken about.
Who else will join? Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Britain?
@ Karen Greene Well you certainly DO speak for me. At anonymous who objected to Karen Greene neither do YOU speak for Canadians.
Trump’s ego just can’t take countries showing Carney respect and wanting to do business with us. It is exactly why Carney walked away from negotiations the first time and Trump just showed the world why we were right in doing so. Dictating who we do business with is not what Canadians want and no country has the right to try to do so.
Screw Carney and his New World Order. He sounds just like someone, who must remain nameless to avoid the Global bots, someone who espoused a similar ideology of controlling the world. That little dictator came tumbling down and so will Carney and his new world order draconian ideology.
@ Rick Wilson – You attempting to advise others while being ignorant about the basic vocabulary is unhelpful. There are no communist hotbeds in the EU. Leave and take your alarmist fearmongering with you.
With what is happening in the US it is very much a wise move to unite with the EU. Carney is protecting Canada. The EU still have morals, ethics and what we as Canadians want to live our lives by not the horrors we have seen in the US. Chaos, Crime and Corruption is not our way. Trading with countries with the same goals is what is needed.
@ Karen Greene – What arrogance. You don’t speak for all Canadians. You certainly don’t speak for me.
Carney should get his backside back to Canada and open up parliament to answer questions on why he isn’t helping Canadians struggling in this economy. Not traveling around the world making big speeches and not tying our CPP in with a private company especially Brookfield
Canadians want no part in Carneys New World Order. FO
Here we go Carney is back to the new world order. Carney wants Canada to be controlled by the EU parliament so they can take control of our trade and economy such as it is. People are so scared of Trump well they should be more scared of the EU parliament because they have destroyed their member countries economies and are now looking for new money
Anonymous the village idiot…if anyone needs a head shake its you, ya Numpty
Expand trade with Europe yes, join the EU definitely not. We will give up more sovereignty than keeping with the USA. Many of these EU states are communist hotbeds with poor economic conditions.
Ben
September 17, 2026 at 10:13 am
We should expand our ties with the EU simply because we are too dependent on the US. That’s pretty intuitive.
Ohh Benny you’re not living in reality, EU imports maybe 1% of what we produce do you really think they are going to supersede the USA. Give your head a shake.
Libs will defend even this…
There is no reason anymore, as long as the liberals make the decision the sheep will follow.
There is more than enough evidence of corruption and backroom deals but at this point if they don’t see it then nothing will get through to them.
Dont worry fake posters pretending to be Canadian… You will be fine.
Great, the damage is already done, we are sinking even deeper. Elbows up will always blame Trump anyway and they will vote as they always do no matter what.
We should expand our ties with the EU simply because we are too dependent on the US. That’s pretty intuitive.
Mark carney “no one is gonna dictate what language we speak in Canada”!! I quess he hasn’t been to Quebec lately!
The EU is anything but stable and even if it were cant come close to replacing trade with the US
His intellectually and emotionally immature base doesn’t care about facts and reality though
Canada Anal Jelly said:
“KY 🇨🇦🇨🇦
September 17, 2026 at 9:37 am
Who cares what orange man says we don’t 🇨🇦🇨🇦”
The answer is you do. It is the sole reason you are here, right superfag?
No they aren’t. Europe started a war with Russia for no reason and cant get out of it.
Their economy is $10 trillion smaller than the US. They are imperialist monsters.
Canada is a weak country filled with weak leaders, so that is of no benefit to the EU.
We get nothing out of this other than more pollution and higher costs.
Please start calling sovereignty what it is, a language war that’s costing our country billions of dollars. There needs to be limits.
Who cares what orange man says we don’t 🇨🇦🇨🇦
If you join the EU in any capacity you give up sovereignty. Carney is sucking and blowing at the same time
Keep our sovereignty your liberal idiots say! Oh, but king carney wants to sell us off to europe and you think that’s grand! Option #2
We are f-uh-k-d
Stick with the economy though, do not get involved with their hatred for Russia🙏👍
If Canada likes Europe so much, why dont the white trash go back to where they came from?
Look at the 80-year-old orange child having a tantrum because we won’t hand over our lunch money
I’m a total stooge. Don’t listen to me folks. Can’t find my TDS medication. I’m just a global sheep. Baaaah. Baaah. I’m a clown. Total halfwit as you will.
America thinks they can dictate our options heck no just because we have let them have our resources for so long and Canadians have paid thst price of high costs of everything from gas food material items people canada is larger than the USA we have much more resources than they do they need us we dont need them and for too long canada has let the Americans dictate I remember when our dollar use to tower over the american dollar then we and the world let them become some sort of super power only because they had ten time the population we did and that’s out governments FAULT……Donald the chunp Trump is upset canada kicked him out because of his criminal ways he runs the American government like one of his businesses and its all about MAKE TRUMP GREAT AGAIN……He just threw america in there to get the VOTE…..CONNED ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ……He would turned america communist to appease his but VALDIRM PUTIN……This is where he will flee when his term is done to AVOID JAIL TIME in the USA…..he will not serve one day in jail for his wrong doings ….conman criminal president so sad amercia…….conned by the boy
I can see how EU and all their help, makes Canada stronger. Has no one told them they are on the other side of a very big pond. By the time they came to Canada’s rescue, all that would be left in clean up on isle Canada.
F*ck the EU and f8ck all you stupid stupid people who have voted this fascist glee club in. Hope you are happy. Canada is now f8cked because of you. Traitors and assholes make the Liberals what they are. A fascist nightmare that is screwing Canada.
Go ahead all you f8ckin bots, spew at me I dont care anymore. The Liberals need to be put down.
The EU in need of a enema.
Elbows up crowd… Don’t mess with our sovereignty.. Next week join a failed EU..
Hes selling our sovereignty to EU shysters. He wants Canada to give his EU buddies billions of tax dollars and absorb their Islamic invasion. Time for Carney to go!
Trumpet is jealous. A tantrum throwing child. You started this trade war, what did you expect? That Canada would lay down and do your bidding? Nope. Never.
I would rather be with Europe than White Nationalist Trumpet and the USA.