The Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, welcomed the invitation from the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to become the first "partner member" of the European Union, while raising some limitations in this regard. In his speech at the European Parliament, Carney referred to polls indicating a strong desire among Canadians for closer ties with Brussels. However, he clearly stated that Ottawa is not seeking full membership in the European Union.
Conditions for Close Cooperation
Carney stated: "Canada is not in a position to want or be able to join the European Union as a full member. Therefore, this is a different framework that is suitable for a country that has deep ties with Europe." He also emphasized that "the precise nomenclature is a question for Europe" and what matters is the content and principle of the collaborations.
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Preserving Sovereignty and National Interests
At the same time, Carney drew a red line against any cession of sovereignty by Canada, stating: "We are looking for collaborations that complement each other and strengthen our sovereignty." These remarks come at a time when Canada is currently in a trade war with the United States and negotiations for a bilateral agreement have reached a deadlock. Carney seeks to strengthen relations with Brussels as a model for other democracies.
In his speech before members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Carney referred to potential areas for deeper cooperation with the European Union. These areas include critical minerals, defense industrial capacity, artificial intelligence and computing, energy security, space, and payments. He stated: "The coalition is defined by what we stand for: freedom, solidarity, prosperity, and sustainability. A coalition that builds resilience for what allows our citizens to thrive and for our citizens to be able to do for themselves."
Carney also emphasized that he does not intend to form a third bloc to enter the great power competitions, stating: "We are not seeking power to dominate others. On the contrary, we are seeking resilience so that no one can control our free markets, influence our sovereignty, threaten our territorial integrity, or undermine our freedoms, democracies, and the rule of law."
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