Carney to address European Parliament as Canada seeks deeper ties

Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday morning as Canada looks to deepen ties with the 27-member bloc. The speech is scheduled to begin at 5:30 a.m. ET. Mr. Carney was in the audience Wednesday when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her State of the Union Address to say she wants Canada to become the bloc’s first associate member. Ms. von der Leyen touted Canada’s and Europe’s common values and perspective on world affairs, adding: “We will now build our shared future as well.”Explainer: What it means for Canada to become EU’s first associate memberThe Prime Minister said recently that Canada envisions a “unique alliance” with the EU that goes beyond the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the pact signed in 2016. Canada’s relations with the United States, a traditional ally, have worsened with the continuing trade war.Negotiating associate membership, a designation that currently doesn’t exist, would be complex and likely prompt pushback from EU states, 10 of which have never ratified CETA. Canadian opposition parties said Wednesday that Mr. Carney shouldn’t pursue it without seeking parliamentary approval.Campbell Clark: A European alliance with more ambition than definitionKonrad Yakabuski: Closer ties with Canada will not save Europe from a ‘slow agony’ of declineMr. Carney’s speech in Strasbourg will cap a whirlwind week. He hosted global institutional investors at the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto earlier this week. Between stops in France, he flew to Liverpool, England, on Wednesday night to discuss a defence partnership with his British counterpart, Andy Burnham.Canada will host a summit with the EU in Montreal at the end of October.