Carney says new EU partnership will go to debate, vote in Parliament

“We welcome this ambition — polling shows an overwhelming majority of Canadians support much closer ties,” he said in his address Thursday.

His remarks come after Canadian officials previously downplayed the characterization of a deeper relationship with the European Union as being an “associate member.” Canadian officials continue to stress that a specific name for that enhanced partnership with Europe still needs to be determined.

Carney said Canada and Europe should have deeper ties on critical minerals, defence, artificial intelligence and energy security.

He said the two should move forward in allowing young people to live, work and study on either side of the Atlantic, and create an integrated market for financial services.

Carney did not mention U.S. President Donald Trump by name, though his speech alluded to strained relations between both Canada and Europe with the American administration.

“We are not fair-weather allies. We do not pursue zero-sum deals. Our commitment to the rule of law, and our unyielding defence of human dignity, individual freedom and democracy share the same deep roots, the same unwavering dedication,” Carney said.

“We hold common values, for which we have always fought, and in whose defence we must always remain vigilant.”

U.S. President Donald Trump says he views Canada potentially becoming an associate member as a “hostile act” in the trade war and threatened more tariffs against Europe.

Carney said a deeper alliance will make Canada a “better partner with the United States.”

In his address, he also sketched out what he does not envision in a new partnership with the EU.

“I am not proposing a third bloc in order to become a great-power rival — only with better manners,” he said.

“We do not seek power to dominate others. On the contrary, we are pursuing resilience so that no one can control our open markets, impair our sovereignty, threaten our territorial integrity, or undermine our freedoms, our democracies, our rule of law.”

Conservative MPs have suggested associate membership in the EU might compromise Canadian sovereignty. They have warned of chaos from open borders, heaps of tax revenue going to Brussels and newcomers taking Canadian jobs — though it’s not clear that any of those changes would come from associate membership.

Ten of 27 EU countries still haven’t ratified a trade deal with Canada that has been in place provisionally for nine years. Canadian businesses have not taken up market access provided to them in Europe to the same extent that European industries have in Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2026.

— With files from David Baxter in Ottawa

Nick Murray, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Carney says new EU partnership will go to debate, vote in Parliament

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