Carney says Canada and Europe are not fair-weather allies

Prime Minister Mark Carney used a speech in the European Parliament in Strasbourg to argue for closer ties between Canada and the European Union, saying the relationship should be built around sovereignty, resilience and shared values. Carney pushed back on Donald Trump’s criticism of deeper CanadaEU cooperation, saying Canada wants partnerships that do not compromise its independence. He said both sides should expand cooperation in areas such as defense, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy and finance. The prime minister also suggested more peopletopeople exchanges, including possible participation in EU programs such as Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the door is open for a new form of partnership, though Canadian officials say the exact structure has not been decided and would be reviewed by Parliament.