Mark Carney has welcomed the goal of Canada becoming the EU’s first associate member, calling for “deep cooperation” between Europe and his country to protect their sovereignty, after Donald Trump dismissed the idea as “laughable.” In a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Carney said polling showed that an overwhelming majority of Canadians supported much closer ties with Europe. “Canada and Europe should secure our strategic autonomy through deep cooperation in the full range of strategic capabilities,” he said on Thursday, listing sectors including critical minerals, energy security and AI. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had invited Canada on Wednesday to become the EU’s first-ever associate member in a speech in which she declared she wanted to bring the bilateral relationship “to the highest level possible.” A few hours later, Trump threatened “very serious tariffs” on Europe if the plan went ahead. The EU and Canada, which already have a web of bilateral trade and sectoral agreements, have sought to move closer in recent months in the face of Trump’s trade tariffs and relentless belligerent rhetoric. Carney received a standing ovation from MEPs in Strasbourg, who waited to shake his hand and get a selfie with the Canadian leader. European lawmakers from pro-EU mainstream parties have already praised Carney’s January speech in Davos, in which he called for middle powers to work together to preserve their sovereignty in a world of great power rivalry where the strong accept no constraints. Carney reprised the theme in Strasbourg, saying: “Canada and Europe are each strong. Europe and Canada are stronger together … The objective is not self-sufficiency, it’s collective resilience.” He went on to say: “I am not proposing a third bloc in order to become a great-power rival, only with better manners,” saying an EU-Canada alliance would be a “beacon for other democracies.” In a speech frequently interrupted by rounds of applause, Carney detailed his plans for the future relationship, saying the two sides could cooperate on critical minerals, defence industrial capacity, AI and computing, energy security, space and payments. He also called for “seamless digital trade in non-agricultural goods and a wide range of services.” He proposed a youth exchange programme that would enable young people to work, study and live in both jurisdictions, as well as Canadian membership of the Erasmus+ scheme, the EU’s education, training and sport programme. No country has ever been offered associate membership before, a category that does not exist in the EU’s treaties. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz floated the idea of associate membership for Ukraine as an interim step to joining the bloc earlier this year, but the idea was shot down by other member states. EU member states support the idea of closer ties with Canada, but some have reacted coolly to the name “associate membership.” Asked by a Bloomberg reporter about the concept he preferred, Carney said: “The precise nomenclature for Europe is a question for Europe,” adding that leaders and lawmakers involved “take the view [that] what matters is the substance.” He also said Canada was “not in a position, nor seeking to become, a full member of the European Union” and that the Canadian parliament would debate and vote on the future relationship. Speaking before Carney’s address, Trump warned that if the EU moved forward with the plan, Washington could impose “very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe.” He added: “IfIt’s a good intention, that’s fine. If it’s a bad intention, we’ll put very heavy tariffs on Europe.” Responding to Trump’s overnight comments, Carney said the deepening of the EU-Canada relationship was “a positive initiative” and “not a reaction to something else.”
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Mark Carneys Call for Deep Cooperation Between Canada and the EU
1 What did Mark Carney actually say in Strasbourg
He gave a speech urging Canada and the European Union to work much more closely together what he called deep cooperation on trade the economy climate and shared global challenges
2 Where is Strasbourg and why did he speak there
Strasbourg is a city in France that hosts the European Parliament Carney spoke there because its a major stage for addressing European leaders and lawmakers
3 Who is Mark Carney
A Canadian economist and former central banker He has led the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England and later served as Canadas prime minister
4 What does deep cooperation mean
It means going beyond basic trade deals Instead of just buying and selling goods Canada and the EU would coordinate on rules standards investment energy and global issues like climate change
5 Why does Carney want Canada and the EU to work together
Because both face similar pressures economic uncertainty climate change and shifting global alliances Teaming up gives them more weight on the world stage than going it alone
6 What areas would this cooperation cover
Trade investment clean energy critical minerals technology climate policy and defending shared democratic values
7 Whats in it for Canada
Better access to the huge European market more investment and a stronger voice in global affairs
8 Whats in it for the EU
Reliable access to Canadian energy minerals and resources plus a likeminded partner on climate and security
9 Is there already a trade deal between Canada and the EU
Yes CETA has been in effect since 2017 Carneys idea is to build on it not start from scratch
10 What is CETA in simple terms
A trade agreement that reduces or removes tariffs between Canada and the EU making it cheaper and easier to do business across the Atlantic
11 Why is deep cooperation needed if CETA already exists
CETA mainly covers trade in goods Deeper cooperation would extend to services digital rules energy research and joint action on global problems
