Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney will become the first non-EU head of government to attend the State of the Union address as he seeks to bring Canada and the EU closer in the face of a hostile United States.
Carney will be in Strasbourg on Wednesday to attend the State of the Union address delivered by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, before he delivers his own speech at the European Parliament the following day.
His visit is the latest step in deepening EU-Canada ties, as Canada seeks new economic partners in the face of US President Donald Trump's trade war.
Canada is seeking a "unique alliance" with the European Union, but is not looking to become a member, Carney said Sunday, after the Wall Street Journal reported that he was exploring whether Canada could become an associate member of the bloc.
"We're not looking to become a member of the European Union," he told reporters. "What we are looking – and will begin discussions – for, is a unique alliance with the European Union."
Close ties are possible without membership, as is the case for Iceland and Switzerland, though this might involve a new, yet-to-be-created status for a non-European country.
Canada became the first non-EU country to join the European defence procurement programme, and Carney was involved in Canada's joining the European Broadcasting Union, which coordinates the Eurovision song contest.
"We share the same values, we have the same priorities and we have very complementary strengths," Carney said.
The EU, which has also been hit by US tariffs and is looking to diversify its own alliances, also has an interest in closer ties with Canada.
(with newswires)
