Carney welcomes EU’s ‘associate member’ plan, while Trump lashes out

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He would also like Canada to join Erasmus+, a 26.2 billion Euro program student mobility and exchange program.

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“Canada and Europe should consider exploring an integrated market for financial services to broaden choice and reduce costs for our citizens,” he added.

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Despite all the buzz around the EUˋs associate membership offer to Canada, negotiations on the new alliance are in early stages, both parties say.

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When the deal is done, Carney promised it would be debated in Parliament and put to a vote. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said it would be studied by European committees as well.

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“That the overwhelmingly positive reaction of members in plenary just a few moments ago will be reflected in a similar reaction in the committees, that I have no doubt,” Metsola said.

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Much like his headline-grabbing speech at the World Economic Forum at Davos in January, Carney’s speech repeatedly took aim at Trump’s administration without naming the president. This time, he focus his criticism on the U.S.’s growing use of tariffs and trade threats to ply longtime allies like Canada.

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“Today, our societies are being shaken by new storms: the upheavals linked to climate change, the erosion of democratic norms, and the use of trade as a weapon,” said the prime minister.

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“Economic integration is now being used as a weapon, and tariffs as a means of pressure. Financial mechanisms are being used for coercive purposes,” he added in French.

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Carney’s star power in Europe was on full display before and after his speech. In fact, the start of his talk was delayed roughly ten minutes as dozens of European lawmakers huddled around the prime minister to shake his hand, exchange some words and, occasionally, take a selfie.

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Terry Reintke, a German politician and co-president of the Greens–European Free Alliance Group, wore a Sidney Crosby Team Canada jersey and was all smiles as she posed for a picture with Carney before he spoke.

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Then, as Carney took the stand, Siegbert Droese — one of the few MEPs from the populist right wing Europe of Sovereign Nations Group attending the speech — chanted “USA! USA!” earning himself groans from other lawmakers and a laugh from the prime minister.

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His speech was frequently interrupted by applause and received a hearty standing ovation, hoots and hollers from nearly all MEPs in the room. Only members of the most right wing political group remained silent.

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von der Leyen’s invitation for Canada to become an “associate member” of the EU attracted Trump’s ire Wednesday evening, with the president lobbing a bevy of threats against Europe if he perceives the new Canada-EU alliance as a “hostile act.”

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“If it’s a good intention, that’s fine. If it’s a bad intention, we’ll put very heavy tariffs on Europe,” Trump told reporters, calling the notion of an associate membership for Canada “laughable”.

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In a press conference after his speech, Carney argued that the U.S. would in fact benefit from Canada deepening its ties to Europe.

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“It will make Europe stronger. It will make Canada stronger. It will make… Canada a better partner with the United States,” he told reporters.

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National Post

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cnardi@postmedia.com

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