Photo courtesy of Anadolu
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa is preparing to explore a closer political, economic and strategic relationship with the European Union while ruling out any bid to join the bloc.
Carney said Sunday that Canada is interested in what he described as a “unique alliance” with the EU, built around shared values, overlapping priorities and complementary economic strengths.
He stressed that the idea does not involve becoming the bloc’s 28th member, but rather creating a framework that could deepen cooperation without affecting Canadian sovereignty.
His remarks followed a Wall Street Journal report that said the government had been studying several options for closer ties with Europe, including a possible form of associate status.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the discussion, saying Canada should neither become a US state nor an EU member state.
A senior Canadian official later confirmed to CBC that talks had been taking place on ways to broaden Canada’s relationship with Europe, but said the government was focused on practical gains in trade, investment and strategic cooperation rather than political integration.
The official also said the “associate member” idea was only one possibility being examined and was not a proposal formally put forward by Canada.
Carney is expected to give more detail on the initiative in an address to the European Parliament this week as Ottawa looks to diversify its international partnerships amid uncertainty in its economic relationship with the United States.