Canada and the EU are laying out their vision for what a closer relationship looks like as the world becomes increasingly “dangerous and divided” and where trade has become “weaponized.”
While the agreement, signed Friday, only refers to the United States once in reference to its sanctions imposed on the International Criminal Court, Prime Minister Mark Carney has made no secret of his plans to foster relationships with other foreign nations in the wake of increasing trade tensions.
“This is a positive alliance. It’s about creating opportunity, building prosperity, addressing sustainability, and reinforcing sovereignty,” Carney said. “It’s not against anything, it’s for. And those who choose to be for solutions will be pleased with the result.”
The prime minister said the agreement, in which Canada and the European Union agree to pursue “an even closer association” between their respective leaders, industries and people, vows to create opportunities for those on both sides of the ocean.
“Opportunity for our youth, for our artists, for our researchers, for our businesses. It’s about democracy, protecting against foreign interference and social media manipulation while supporting human rights, freedom, and the rule of law. This is about sustainability. Protect our oceans, our forests, and our Arctic, while developing practical, scalable solutions to climate change. And above all, it’s about sovereignty, about being able to live our lives as we wish,” Carney said.
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The agreement sets out an alliance for trade, research, raw minerals, energy, security and preparedness, including vows to pursue easier digital money transfers between people in Canada and Europe as well as more opportunities for labour mobility and youth education abroad.
“This is based on partnership, balance, and mutual respect. And like any major bridge, each side has something to offer the other,” Carney said.
Both parties say they will collaborate to work toward connecting instant payment systems to facilitate faster, low-cost and more seamless border transactions, making it easier to conduct business across the Atlantic and transfer funds between the two economies.
Currently, large sums typically need to be handled by wire transfers which take days to process.
Canada and the EU will also launch negotiations to encourage deeper participation in Erasmus+, the EU flagship program for education, training youth and support to expand opportunities for students, researchers, educators and young people to gain international experience and promote training and lasting institutional partnerships.
Canada and the EU have also agreed to launch discussion on cooperating on skills development and enhancing labour and research mobility, with a focus on reducing barriers for young people and facilitating mobility for highly skilled workers.
“This alliance is built for people. The student in Edmonton who wants to study in Stockholm. The cancer researcher in Saskatoon who needs her answer today, not next spring. The Vancouver startup with new customers in Berlin,” Carney said. “We launch a new alliance for the future that will deliver now and in the future with like-minded nations. We’re just getting started.”
Canada has also signalled its intention to join the Ukraine Support Loan, affirming a commitment to support for Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty through political, financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic aid.
“We see the world through the same eyes. What matters nowadays is not where a country is on the map, but what it is ready to build with us and what it stands for in the world of fierce geopolitical headwinds. These headwinds won’t stop blowing. This change is permanent and now it is time to act with confidence and with vision to build a new future,” Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said Friday.
She said Canada’s priorities and visions align with the EU enough that “we can build a partnership that comes closer to membership than anything we’ve done before.”
“In a world of growing rivalries, sovereignty is no longer the freedom to act alone, but it is the capacity to act together.”
The two leaders have also laid out plans for participation on artificial intelligence, outer space, climate change, as well as European investment in critical raw minerals.
However, the agreement made no mention of whether Canada will align with European regulations on AI, which require the labelling content generated or assisted using AI.
They are the dangerous ones.
Rodney. I have no problem with the U.S. trying to rebuild its industries, but it has to adopt policies that will attract investment. Trump’s tariff policy won’t bring industries back because no one will invest in a new plant on the basis of a tariff that could disappear tomorrow. Trump should have learned this by now. He introduced a 25% tariff on all steel imports in 2019 and all it achieved was about 25% higher prices in the U.S. steel market rather than increased production. The higher price bubble still exists today and only served to impose higher costs on downstream U.S. steel users.
As to dairy and poultry supply management, Canada negotiators got supply management included in the Canada – US FTA, WTO, NAFTA, and CUSMA. The Americans agreed to supply management in each Agreement because we bought and paid for it as part of the negotiations. This makes supply management a fair trade practice between Canada and the U.S. and any effort by the US to retaliate against supply management violates those agreements.
If the EU does ever want Canada as a member it will only be to use this country’s taxpayers as a money source.
Most EU nations don’t want Canada as a member. They know that Canada is all talk and no action and a military/security freeloader as seen in NATO and NORAD.
Insufferable Ben, your liberal polls and sissy squads are pathetic.
A bunch of lefties deciding what what.
“Ben
October 30, 2026 at 7:19 pm
@51 now. Canada ranks much higher than the USA on world freedom and democracy indices.”
Alberta separation will roar back to life when the EU decides Canada should close down the smelly oil sand industry and Alberta goes bankrupt.
Just because Canada cannot build government subsidized automobiles for the USA, just because the USA will not allow Chinese trans-shipments of steel and aluminum through Canada. Because the USA wants to build up their own industries and employ Americans. Just because the USA wants fair trade in their dairy, poultry and lumber industries, Carney and the media have a hissy fit and call the world more dangerous and divided?
In the last year over 16 speeches Carney has said dangerous and divided world almost 100 times.
Give me a break, bunch of fear mongering.
The modern members of Germany’s former National Socialist Party ,aka as the radical leftists of the E.U., want to rule the world with a singular authoritarian government and Carney and the LPC want in.The Liberal lust for complete control over every aspect of their citizen’s ,correction “subject’s”, lives has reached it’s pinnacle and they will do anything to make it happen.
Chairman Carney is the man for the job.
Details are in the pudding.
What greater way to spend the balance of your term kicking back and vacationing in Europe on the taxpayers dime while claims you are negotiating trade deals.
This Liberal Party loves to live life to the fullest without exerting any effort.
Europeans came to North American to escape the tyranny of European Governments, that is why the U.S. is founded on freedom, but yet here we are looking to embrace Europe again.
It will not end well.
Bust out your purses, Men !!! Finally we will be able to wear them in public without being mocked behind our backs because the Manpurse is a fashion statement in Europe
You talking to me? I SAID YOU TALKING TO ME?
Killing is my business and business is GOOD!
Russia would wipe cunada off the planet in less than a half hour
This fear mongering is on par with the covid ridiculousness. 🙄
Ben AI has a NUKE in his azz, where are you Ben so I can get out of town
We have a trade agreement with the EU. Several nations can’t be bothered to ratify it. So why this ‘association’ that is also being soundly disputed by many member states? If it’s ‘more than trade’ it violates provincial rights and exceeds Federal mandate. This reeks of anti Democratic autocracy. Making it more dangerous than the supposed ‘problem’ Carney’s manufactured without real evidence. But hey! He needs an excuse to garner power he doesn’t earn or deserve. Typical oligarch thinking. Canada is in trouble
“They’re just students”. 🤣🤣🤣
Le Quebecois. Really, are you unable to Google something as straightforward as this? Asking respectfully. The Economist and Freedom House surveys would be a good starting point.
French isn’t my first language; Italian is, so I’m not at all confident responding in French. That said, you might want to consider using English going forward. Relying on French only obscures the point you’re trying to communicate to your intended audience.
The middle class is way better off in Canada than in the EU. EU is not a salvation for Canada and many counties have already rejected Canada as a member. There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Europe is a toilet and Carney is determined to flush Canada down.
I’m sure there are alot of Canadian students that can’t wait to study abroad, in say France?
Wouldn’t that be a good education?
no thanks, piss off with your EU dreams
Carneys wet dream as being a member of the EU is already over. Another fail.
@Ben, Pouvez-vous publier un lien ou indiquer le site web ainsi que le chemin d’accès, ou bien sommes-nous censés vous croire sur parole à chaque fois que vous avancez quelque chose ?
@51 now. Canada ranks much higher than the USA on world freedom and democracy indices.
Another idiotic move
Within ten years all cunadians will be praying 5 times per day, country of LOSERS!
Canada is done. Change the name. Canada once represented a country of hard working free people. It is not longer that way. Carney and his secret deals are very frightening the people
That are awake. Take a good look. Canada will be no longer.
A secret protocol in the agreement has Carney being President of the EU in 2027 and Joly becoming PM. We didn’t vote for this.
Canada has agreed to buy Flock cameras from the EU to make sure we all have Chinese vehicles by the deadline of 2028.
How is trading with the EU going to help with affordability in Canada? Explain that one Clowney.
The world is no more “dangerous and divided “ then during the Cold War. Also, what is Carney going to do about it? Canada doesn’t have a functioning military
I like this idea of Carney and the EU Trade. But Carney has left the people of Canada out of any hope of owning homes, food costs, etc. etc. He hasn’t shown a proper Balance to our Economy. Instead he leaves all of this public anguish to his staff and especially his Finance Minister.
In Carney’s mind, it’s only about Big Industry and Investments to his Brookfield Riches. Where does he get off focusing on his Investments instead of the people of Canada? I’m almost sure the whole Senate have been given shares in Brookfield.
If his Ministers think they are helping with the wee pittance of that so called Grocery Benefit that is supposed to help feed families and low income seniors for 3 lousy months with the high cost of food, etc. then the Finance Minister better hop on board the poor train and see if he can live on that awful amount. And he should take extra courses in proper Financing. They’re making up stiff instead of caring for the people. I received more GST every 3 mths. than what I’m getting now with the grocery amount.They’re fooling with those who voted the Libs inTrust.
Carney’s efforts to connect with EU are for the benefit of himself and his wife.
Carney doesn’t intend to be PM for a long time. He yearns to move to Europe and take on his next job for ruling the world.
Canada is being taken for a ride.
Surely Canadians have no desire to join a mess like the EU.
Works for Carney though.
Live in fear everyone and give us your money, Russia could destroy the world ten times over
So, we already do many of these things. Honestly, its true. European businesses have factories here and offices here. Its not because we have no agreements or it costs more for them and they just really, really want to reduce their earnings and profits.
Yes, we share in research. Yes, we share in security, and art.
This is just a giant Liberal Acid Trip.
All of the things you want but already have being flaunted as new.
The EU has no trade deal with us for the exact same reason the US has no trade deal with us.
This is directed at Canada’s soft underbelly: The Boomer generation that is far more likely to be of European decent if not European immigrants.
I highly doubt there is a large swath of our Asian, African, Middle-Eastern folk thinking…yay! Closer ties with Europe!
I highly doubt our indigenous feiends are thinking – yay! Another European invasion!
Notice the “opportunities for Canadian youth” = leave the country!
All those EU members are taking Carney and Canada for fools. There here banqueting at the tax payers expense when they already know the idea of Canada being an associate member has already been vetoed by several EU countries. Even the most ardent elbozo must realise that the EU supports itself within itself.
Bill, why are you lying? Making things up? Alberta doesn’t have 15,000 doctors. Idit.
What the F; what is it.Please explain to us at your leisure. At least we did not have to feed him on his jet. Or are we paying for this display of ass grabbers.
Haha Canada is becoming more like Europe and less like the white trash USA!! 🤣 Too funny 🤣
More political theatre from Carney. All sizzle and no steak.
Importing EU’s red-green alliance demonstrations is the dangerous part of the world Canada should avoid. However, we’re already seeing this derangement in Montreal and Toronto. Reelecting Chow is a license for sanctioned social disorder. I’m sure we’ll see greater numbers of military aged refugees, i mean, erm Students, out in the streets of Toronto trashing things proclaiming how evil Canada is and demanding reparations
EU members (France, Italy, Germany, Romania) have denounced an alliance with Canada. Carney and Ursula von der Leyen continue with a false narrative that Canada will be a part of the bloc.
And the west coast people rejoiced that Carney is saving Canada.
And the east coast boomers rejoiced from their cowering position under their beds.
As part of the deal, the EU is getting 15,000 doctors and 20,000 nurses from Alberta to support EU medical care. Canada is paying their salaries for 10 years.
Canada, EU lay out vision for closer ties in ‘dangerous and divided’ world
“Dangerous and Divided” is really the separation from Liberal (aka Carney supporters) and reality with people who have common sense and critical thinking skills. I do not recall having direction from Canadians to become the 28th state of the EU ?
Canada is divided and Carney is the one creating the danger.
The EU and Liberals can rot.
All of Europe cannot come close to replacing the USA for trade. Con Man Carney was elected on the promise of being the best person to make a deal with Trump. Now get back to the table and prove it.
A majority of Canadians polled who wanted closer ties with the EU are probably celebrating now.
Carney is so obsessed with hiking taxes he forgot Canada already has trade agreements with Europe. Now it’s time to stop the dangerously dividing the world and get back to the negotiation table with 80% of our trade which is with the US and cannot realistically be replaced. Europe by land mass produces far more pollution than Canada and they should be paying Canada tariffs.
They really need to stop with the constant “dangerous and divided world” its becoming like a patronizing running joke. Followed by more poll propaganda. This was supposed to be a deeper trade agreement, not giving up our sovereignty. Our tariffs will be higher than we have now with their carbon trading scheme. Unreal
If the world is dangerous and divided it’s entirely because of this traitorous socialist liberal government. We’re unsafe because of being disarmed and because of this lenient catch-and-release legal system. We’re divided because of his puppeteering of that flake Trudeau to online bots that call anyone who questions the government, a misogynist racist conservative plague rat. This government did everything wrong you see these last 6 years.
IF you all THINK the world has become a dangerous and divided world now watch and see what is going to happen to YOU ALL IF CARNEY signs any agreement to join the EU. Google what other countries people have to say has happened to them and you will know why I to say stay away from the EU CARNEY, MY VOTE.
Good God, we’re in trouble.
EU is totally humouring Mark Clowney.