Carney: The EU and Canada must strengthen their ties

TALLINN - The European Union and Canada must strengthen their relations, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said at the European Parliament's plenary session on Thursday.

"Canada and Europe are not geographical neighbours, but like-minded friends," Mark Carney said.

In her introduction to Mark Carney's speech, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: "Europe and Canada both know that we are stronger when we work together. Canada has stood by Europe during difficult moments in history, and we will never forget what they have sacrificed. Today, however, we look to the future together, and both sides have much to gain from cooperation in the fields of defence, trade, energy, education, and research."

Mark Carney stressed that the current geopolitical shift requires a new approach. "Europe and Canada have a long shared history, and we are both equally committed to the rule of law, the unwavering protection of human dignity, freedoms, and democracy."

"A strong economy is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve a just society. We all prosper more when we share our success," he added.

In Carney's view, Europe and Canada each have their own strengths, allowing them to support and complement one another. A closer partnership between Canada and Europe is therefore in the interest of both sides.

The Prime Minister also responded to Ursula von der Leyen's proposal from yesterday to grant Canada the status of an associated country of the European Union: "Such a direction is very welcome. To protect their strategic autonomy, Canada and Europe should cooperate closely on all strategic issues, including critical minerals, the defence industry, artificial intelligence, energy security, space, and payment solutions."

Carney also highlighted how beneficial it would be to create a single market for financial services and for Canada to participate in the Erasmus+ programme and the EU's next framework programme for research and innovation.

"Deepening and expanding our relations will strengthen our sovereignty, lower prices, improve opportunities and security for Europeans and Canadians, and allow us to live the lives we want," Carney said.

The Prime Minister stressed that he does not want to create a new bloc to compete with world powers, just more politely. "Our goal is not power and domination over others. On the contrary. Our goal is stability, ensuring that no one can influence our open markets, limit our sovereignty, threaten our territorial integrity, or restrict our freedom, democracy, and the rule of law," Carney explained.

"We must create an alliance so strong that no one else can make decisions for us. An alliance so open that others can join it. And an alliance so principled that its strength supports the international legal order, rather than overriding it," he said.