The Canadian Prime Minister criticizes Trump's proposals regarding relations with the European Union

(CNN) - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made a veiled criticism of US President Donald Trump on Thursday, stressing that his proposal to strengthen relations with the European Union was not aimed at forming a new geopolitical bloc characterized by more tact.

“I am not proposing a third bloc to be a competitor to the great powers, just with better morals,” Carney told European lawmakers in France.

He added: "We do not seek power in order to dominate others; on the contrary, we seek to strengthen our resilience, so that no one can control our open markets, undermine our sovereignty, threaten the integrity of our territories, or undermine our freedoms, our democratic systems, and our rule of law."

During a speech that included conversation in French from time to time, Carney reviewed the justifications for strengthening cooperation to build the ability to withstand what he called “new storms,” referring to climate change, the weaponization of trade, and the erosion of democratic norms.

The Canadian Prime Minister said in his speech afterwards: “Europe and Canada are stronger together.”

Carney's comments come one day after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested that Canada become the bloc's first "associate member," sparking a new threat of tariffs from Trump.