Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is traveling to Europe for a series of engagements, including a significant speech to the European Parliament, as his government pursues deeper ties with the European Union amid an escalating trade dispute with the United States. Carney’s visit aims to forge a strategic partnership with the EU that could grant Canadians increased mobility to live and work across Europe.
The Canadian government is exploring an arrangement that would permit Canadians to reside and work in European countries without requiring visas, as part of a broader strategic alliance. Officials have clarified that Canada is not seeking to replicate the agreements held by Norway or Switzerland with the EU, nor has it proposed "associate membership." Instead, Canada desires a partnership tailored to its specific priorities, with a strong emphasis on investment.
This diplomatic push toward Europe is a key component of Prime Minister Carney’s strategy to diversify Canada’s economic relationships and decrease its heavy reliance on the U.S. market, to which approximately 70% of Canadian exports are directed. Carney has explicitly stated that Canada is not pursuing EU membership but rather a "unique alliance" with the bloc.
Carney is scheduled to attend European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address as a guest of honor before delivering his address to the European Parliament. This trip places Carney back on the European stage at a time of strained relations with Washington, marked by tariffs, threats, and personal attacks following the collapse of trade talks. His previous remarks, such as a speech in January that drew a personal rebuke from U.S. President Donald Trump, suggest his upcoming address could further increase diplomatic tensions.
Carney is also expected to convey a message that has resonated positively in Europe but has seen limited adoption by European governments: middle powers should resist economic coercion and be prepared to walk away from unfavorable deals. Canada has retaliated against U.S. tariffs and rejected trade terms that it argues would undermine its sovereignty. In contrast, Europe initially refrained from retaliation and accepted a deal that left many EU exports facing U.S. tariffs of up to 15%.
At a forum in Davos earlier this year, Carney advocated for middle powers to unite rather than capitulate to larger nations, warning that negotiating alone with a dominant power leads to weakness and acceptance of unfavorable terms. He described such a scenario not as sovereignty but as "the performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination."
Discussions within the European Parliament have shown some support for Carney's stance. For instance, French lawmaker Chloé Ridel noted that Carney had articulated sentiments shared by many Europeans, while German lawmaker Tobias Cremer urged Europe to demonstrate the same courage as Canada. However, some analysts, like Tobias Gehrke of the European Council on Foreign Relations, suggest Europe's forbearance was an attempt to preserve U.S. support for NATO and Ukraine, which has yielded neither firm security commitments nor stable ties with Washington.
Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has refuted the notion that Canada's outreach to Europe is solely an attempt to gain leverage over the U.S., asserting that Ottawa remains committed to working with the United States while simultaneously cultivating stronger international partnerships. He acknowledged, however, that the global geopolitical landscape has undergone significant shifts, stating, "The world has changed and America has changed."
Carney's European visit follows an investment summit held in Toronto, part of a broader initiative to attract global capital and lessen Canada's dependence on the U.S. Canada and the EU already maintain significant cooperation in areas such as trade, defense, energy, technology, and critical minerals. In 2025, bilateral trade between Canada and the EU reached approximately $147 billion (127 billion euros), positioning the EU as Canada’s second-largest trading partner.
Further underscoring the strengthening relationship, the European Parliament announced it will open an office in Ottawa, its tenth outside the EU, with a mandate that includes regional and Arctic affairs. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola emphasized the need for like-minded partners to collaborate more closely in an increasingly unpredictable world.
Canada recently became the first non-European country to join the EU’s €150 billion ($173 billion) SAFE defense program, granting Canadian companies access to joint procurement opportunities. A summit between Canada and the EU is scheduled to take place in Montreal later in October.
According to Ian Lesser of the German Marshall Fund in Brussels, the unpredictability of U.S. policies under President Trump has expedited efforts by both Canada and Europe to diversify their economic and security alliances. He observed that the "sheer unpredictability emanating from Washington has given history a shove," and noted that many in Brussels are still inclined to accommodate Washington or await the outcome of upcoming U.S. midterm elections to see if a Congress can emerge that might constrain the president's actions.
Prime Minister Carney is also scheduled to visit Britain to meet with Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The two leaders, reportedly sharing a passion for the soccer club Everton, are expected to attend an Everton League Cup match.