European Parliament speech... Targeting Trump: “We are not allies only when times are good.”

European Parliament speech... Targeting Trump: “We are not allies only when times are good.”

(Berlin = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Gye-yeon = Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his positive stance on becoming an associate member of the European Union (EU) on the 17th (local time), saying, "Canada and Europe are each strong. We are stronger when we are together."

Regarding EU President Ursula von der Leyen's proposal for associate membership, Prime Minister Carney said at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, "I welcome it. Opinion polls show that an overwhelming majority of Canadians support a closer relationship with Europe. An alliance for the future is a unique and positive approach that we will define together."

Prime Minister Carney said, “Canada has more than 34 key mineral resources, and our alliance can help us meet our shared goals of providing the stable supply Europe needs, the advanced processing capabilities Canada wants, and completing value chains in the energy transition and defense sectors.”

In her annual policy speech the day before, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed associate member status to Canada, saying, "We want to open the door together so that Canada can become the first associate member of the EU."

“We are not a fair-weather alliance. We do not seek zero-sum negotiations,” Carney said. “We believe that a strong economy is not an end in itself, but a means to a just society.”

He also argued, "Today, our society is caught up in new storms such as the upheaval of climate change, the erosion of democratic norms, and trade as a weapon. The multilateral institutions we have relied on have weakened," and added, "Today, sovereignty and openness are difficult to coexist. Economic integration is now being used as a weapon, and tariffs are being used as a means of pressure."

“I am not proposing to create a third bloc to compete with the great powers. I am simply suggesting to do it in a better way,” he said, emphasizing that “we do not seek power to dominate others.”

After finishing his speech, he held a joint press conference with European Parliament President Roberta Mezzola and gave a more specific answer to the proposal for EU associate membership, saying, "There will be a final vote in the Canadian Parliament on the final structure of the alliance we are preparing."

U.S. President Donald Trump warned the day before about Canada's possible membership in the EU, saying, "If they do that, and I view that as a hostile act, I will impose very high tariffs or suspend trade with Europe on a number of items."

Prime Minister Carney said, “A stronger and more resilient Canada will be a more effective partner to the United States.”

Prime Minister Carney gave a speech in a mix of Canadian official languages, English and French, and German, and took selfies with members of the European Parliament, showing solidarity. The former governor of the Bank of England (BOE), the central bank of England, has always said that Canada is "the most European country outside of Europe."