Prime Minister Mark Carney says a proposed enhanced partnership with the European Union will be put up for debate and a final vote in Parliament.
During a news conference in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday, the Prime Minister said Canada is not looking to become a full member of the European Union and insisted that this is “a different framework.”
“Yes, we will have a series of debates, I’m sure, in Parliament, relevant committees, and ultimately there will be a vote in the Canadian Parliament for the final structure of the alliance that we’re working on,” Carney told a news conference alongside Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament.
More details to emerge during European-Canada summit in October
“The next important point is the summit, European-Canada summit in Montreal at the 29th and 30th of October, but it will all roll out transparently. It’s an exciting time because this is an opportunity to speak for Canada. Make Canada stronger, more sovereign, more independent, more prosperous, more sustainable.”
Carney said the EU would determine the “nomenclature” of a new partnership, but the substance of the arrangement matters more than its name.
A similar debate will happen in the European Parliament.
“We look forward and positively at new opportunities with allies such as Canada, with whom we have had partnerships and alliances, call them what you will, for hundreds of years,” Metsola said.
“The overwhelmingly positive reaction of members in plenary just a few moments ago will be reflected in a similar reaction in the committees. Of that, I have no doubt.”
EU members show support for proposed partnership
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reacted to Carney’s speech by sharing a picture on social media of the EU flag with a red maple leaf just off to the left of the circle of 12 yellow stars. The circle represents unity and harmony among Europe’s people.
In an earlier address to the European Parliament, Carney said he welcomes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s “ambition” to see Canada become the EU’s first associate member.
“Polling shows an overwhelming majority of Canadians support much closer ties,” he said in his address Thursday.
His remarks came after Canadian officials downplayed the “associate member” label.
Carney said Canada and Europe should forge deeper ties on critical minerals, defence, artificial intelligence and energy security.
He said the two partners should look at allowing young people to live, work and study on either side of the Atlantic, and creating an integrated market for financial services.
Potential to allow Canadian students to participate in Erasmus+
Metsola said this could include Canada joining Erasmus+, a program that facilitates student exchanges between member countries.
“If you ask our young people what they associate the European Union with, I would tell you Erasmus is the first thing they mentioned. Horizon is the second thing they mention in terms of opportunities that with Canada could only get bigger,” she said.
Horizon Europe is an EU program that funds various research and innovation projects. The program’s budget for 2021-2027 is about $150 billion.
Trump sees partnership as a threat
Carney did not mention U.S. President Donald Trump by name in his speech, though he alluded to strained relations between both Canada and Europe and 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.”
Trump said Wednesday he views the prospect of Canada becoming an associate member of the EU as a possible “hostile act” and threatened to impose more tariffs on Europe.
Carney said a deeper alliance will make Canada a “better partner with the United States.”
“Canadians are united that nobody is going to tell us what language we speak, no one going to dictate our culture or with whom we can strike agreements internationally,” Carney said.
In his address, he also sketched out the limits of the proposed arrangement 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.”
Concerns among conservatives
Conservative MPs have suggested associate membership in the EU might compromise Canadian sovereignty. They have warned of chaos from open borders, 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.
Carney received standing ovations at the beginning and end of his speech from about two-thirds of the European parliamentarians.
Terry Reintke, co-leader of the Greens in the European Parliament — who hold seven per cent of the seats — said the day before Carney’s speech that she hoped to see him more often in the Parliament. She wore a Sidney Crosby Team Canada jersey as she sat in the front row for Carney’s speech.
Not all parliamentarians were as receptive. As Carney approached the podium to begin his speech, one European parliamentarian welcomed him with a chant of “USA, USA.”
The prime minister chuckled in response.
— With files from David Baxter in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2026.