Carney heads to France seeking deeper ties with EU on defence, trade and people

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to travel to France on Tuesday ahead of his address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The visit aims to strengthen ties between Canada and the European Union, particularly in the areas of defence, trade, and cooperation on issues such as critical minerals, nuclear and hydrogen energy, artificial intelligence, and supercomputing.

Canadian Ambassador to the EU Jonathan Wilkinson stated that the focus is on "broad-ranging conversations" rather than a comprehensive agreement. The European Parliament is also planning to open a new office in Ottawa to facilitate more exchanges between Canadian and EU politicians. EU Ambassador to Canada Geneviève Tuts hinted that a new deal might be finalized during the EU-Canada summit in Montreal on October 29-30.

Carney is expected to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa in Montreal. The Canadian Prime Minister's visit comes amid various crises, including economic, environmental, and migration challenges, as well as the ongoing threat from authoritarian powers.