Carney backs proposal for Canada to become EU’s first associate member
Read NV on Google
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (Photo: REUTERS/Chris Tanouye)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sept. 17 endorsed the
prospect of his country becoming the first associate member of the European
Union, the Associated
Press reported.
Carney received a rousing welcome as he entered the European
Parliament chamber. Many lawmakers approached him to shake his hand and take
selfies, and he received a standing ovation after his speech. One lawmaker wore
a Canadian hockey jersey.
In a speech that repeatedly praised cooperation between
Europe and Canada, Carney said he welcomed European Commission President Ursula
von der Leyen’s proposal, unveiled on Sept. 16.
Carney acknowledged that the concept of “associate
membership” still needs to be defined and outlined the substance of his
proposal: deeper integration between Canada and Europe in trade, defense,
critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, space, research and
financial services, making both sides less vulnerable to economic and
geopolitical pressure.
“I am not proposing that we create a third bloc in order to
rival the great powers — just with better manners. We are not seeking power in
order to dominate others,” Carney said.
He said the goal is to strengthen Canada’s resilience so
that no country can control its markets, undermine its sovereignty or dictate
its decisions.
For generations, Canada built its economy around integration
with the United States, AP reported. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, demands
for economic concessions and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st state have
pushed Ottawa to reduce its dependence on the United States and seek much
deeper economic, security and political ties with Europe.
Carney will host EU leaders at a Canada-EU summit in
Montreal on Oct. 29–30. The two sides are expected to discuss the proposed new
relationship in greater detail there.
Canada and the European Union draw closer
Bloomberg reported that the European Union sees greater potential
for closer ties with Canada than with the United Kingdom. The report said the
EU and Canada are working to establish a new, comprehensive relationship
spanning a wide range of issues, from trade to security, with the aim of
creating a transatlantic alliance intended to counterbalance the United States
and China.
The Financial Times, citing sources, also reported that Canada is in talks to join a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine as Carney seeks to
strengthen transatlantic ties and reduce dependence on the United States.
On Sept. 16 in Strasbourg, von der Leyen publicly proposed
making Canada the EU’s first associate member during her annual State of the
Union address to the European Parliament.
In response, Trump
threatened the European Union with sweeping new tariffs if Washington views
granting Canada EU associate member status as a hostile move against the United
States.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
