Mark Carney addresses European Parliament on closer Canada‑EU ties

financeSep 17, 2026741,381

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her State of the European Union speech in Strasbourg to set out priorities for the coming year, including closer ties with Canada, online child protection, climate action, and support for Ukraine. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended as a special guest while von der Leyen spent more than an hour addressing the European Parliament. Media reporting and diplomatic sources have flagged a specific suggestion of a novel 'associate member' style relationship for Canada, but diplomats told the Financial Times that such a status does not exist and would probably fail in negotiations with member states. Berlin has publicly opposed any fast track toward an EU associate arrangement for Canada, warning Ottawa risks angering other partners. Von der Leyen’s speech was broadly aspirational and lacked legislative detail, leaving the proposed deeper Canada EU ties to be resolved through future negotiations among the 27 member states.

Adrian Littlejohn

@yorksfella59.bsky.social

Here's what happens... The EU extends a hand of friendship to both Canada and the only country that's ever been stupid enough to leave it. We all tell #Trump to stick his tariffs so far up his bright orange arse that they tickle Nigel Farage's feet! 😡 Message ends. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx...

1545h ago

Stella Trenton-Smith 3

MAGA =:Make America Go Away

Jus 🇮🇪 🇪🇺 🚜 🌲2

Trump is then confused and asks 'l am still King of the world, right ?' 😳

Old sea dog2

Message to Trump..fuck off fuckwit

CNN

@cnn.com

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney takes a swipe at Trump, insisting Canada-EU alliance is more than a new geopolitical bloc with "better manners." https://cnn.it/4gYAitF

982h ago

Mat Germain9

It's a recognition that nations are better off when they cooperate. Something the #UnitedStates oligarchs don't understand. They only want dominance.

christina55.bsky.social4

Weird that CNN frames it this way. PM Carney never mentioned Trump by name… 🤔

thehoodedclaw.bsky.social4

USA no longer regarded as friend so countries have moved on.

Cheryl in Nova Scotia 🇨🇦🍁🍁

@minibubbly.bsky.social

Prime Minister Mark Carney says a "deeper partnership" between Canada and Europe is necessary to hedge against great powers encroaching on the sovereignty of smaller nations. #EU #Canada www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

643h ago

The New York Times

@nytimes.com

Canada’s newly proposed associate membership in the E.U. will help secure sovereignty and freedom for the country amid a “ferocious storm,” Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada told the European Parliament on Thursday.

742h ago

"Tiger" John2

Great idea and implement it quickly and watch the orange clown explode!

LEXO AI1

This move could strengthen Canada’s strategic ties with Europe and bolster its autonomy, but will require careful negotiation on trade and regulatory alignment.

Quoting this

Rick City2

Maybe Trump will demand that US companies stop trading with all of us. Maybe he will... 😆

Anna Busy Bee2

Great speech from #MarkCarney the new Leader of the Free World. Europe welcomes Canada. Let's work together as the stable and reliable alliance of democratic countries in the new world order. 💪

Social Media Lab

@socialmedialab.ca

👏Separated by an Ocean but joined by ideals... "We are not fairweather allies. We do not pursue zero-sum deals. Our committment to the rule of law and our unyielding defence [...] of democracy share the same roots. We hold common values," Mark Carney said in his address to the EU parliament.

413h ago

Quoting this

Ambassador Greg Delawie8

Carney sounds like the leader our times need.

Ian Johnson

@mrianjohnson.bsky.social

Mark Carney to EU: "I'm not proposing to become a great power rival only with better manners. We do not seek power to dominate others. We are pursuing resilience so no one can imperil our sovereignty, threaten our territorial integrity, or undermine our freedoms, our democracies, our rule of law."

mark carney speaks at eu parliament thursday 17 september 2025

453h ago

Quoting this

John Muller7

The subtext here of course is that the main country threatening our territorial integrity, undermining our freedoms, democracy, and rule of law, is the United States of America.

Mark Chadbourn

@chadbourn.bsky.social

Canadian PM Mark Carney addresses the European Parliament, opening in French. He says the response to the "current geopolitical rupture" must include a "new dimension".

573h ago

Per Ahlberg

@perahlberg.bsky.social

Watching Mark Carney live, addressing the European Parliament, outlining the new Canada-EU alliance. The breadth and depth of vision is jaw-dropping. The world order is shifting on its axis.

463h ago

Per Ahlberg17

Speech ends to a massive standing ovation. Shouts of approval from the MEPs.

Worriedeuropean1

If Canada were to formally join the EU in trade matters, the EU would strengthen its position vis-à-vis the US as the world's largest and most integrated trade bloc!

Sweet Petunia1

Please please let them call it the CanEU

Best for Britain

@bestforbritain.org

👀 Mark Carney also told the European Parliament that he welcomes the EU's ambition for Canada to become an 'associate member'.

563h ago

LakefrontDaisy1 🇨🇦❣️🇺🇦🍁

@lakefrontdaisy1.bsky.social

PM Mark Carney says Canada has formally applied to join the U.K.-led Joint Expeditionary Force as a full-time member, a bid that London is supporting. The joint force is a military coalition made up of 10 NATO allies which was struck in 2014 to create a quick-response force. What a day Canada!

397h ago

Poppet 🇨🇦Small acts of solidarity, repeated millions of times.

@northernpoppet.bsky.social

If you wish, Mr. Carney's full speech. Well worth listening to .. www.youtube.com/live/fTB6-T9...

302h ago

Steve Peers

@stevepeers.bsky.social

Trump responds to the prospect of Canada being an associate member of the EU by threatening tariffs on the EU - as always, echoing the behaviour of bullies/domestic abusers. Obviously this shows contempt for his "deal" with the EU, and if he did it the EU can retaliate.

302h ago

Dawny B4

I’m sure Mr Carney is already three steps ahead of him.

Liam Connolly1

It's just the most maddening combination of utter stupidity and sheer tedium. The curse was wrong, hell isn't living in interesting times, it's living in these boring, repetitive, utterly moronic times.

Euronews

@euronews.com

The EU-Canada alliance aims to be a "beacon for other democracies," says Canadian PM Mark Carney, addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

282h ago

Adam Schwarz

@adamjschwarz.bsky.social

Mark Carney says he supports Canada becoming an associate member of the European Union: "Canada welcomes this ambition." "We should deepen our people-to-people ties, allowing our youth to work, study and live where they want on either side of the Atlantic."

382h ago

Financial Times

@financialtimes.com

EU alliance to make Canada ‘better partner for the US’, says Carney ft.trib.al/5tDCAoY

332h ago

Antifish3

He has to say that of course, but the fact is the world is moving on without the United States and its failing empire.

Quoting this

Simon Lester2

"He wants Canada to join the Erasmus Plus student exchange scheme, deepen its involvement in the next stage of Horizon Europe, a research programme, and negotiate a deal to allow young people to work in each other’s countries."

3 sources

ft.comWhy Mark Carney’s romance with Europe can only go so far abcnews.comEU chief sets out her vision for Europe's future in a key speech watched by Canada's Mark Carney everton.newsMark Carney reveals what ‘didn’t disappoint’ during Everton visit with Andy Burnham

Mark Carney addresses European Parliament on closer Canada‑EU tiesfinance

Mark Carney addresses European Parliament on closer Canada‑EU ties

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