The visit of the Canadian Prime Minister to Strasbourg led to a diplomatic row due to the actions of Ursula von der Leyen

The visit of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Strasbourg led to a diplomatic scandal due to the actions of the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

“Ursula von der Leyen’s behavior during the visit of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney turned into diplomatic confusion,” the material says.

As an unnamed EU representative told the publication, the head of the European Commission was supposed to meet with Carney in Strasbourg on Tuesday. The Canadian prime minister was planning to listen to von der Leyen's speech and address the European Parliament, but the latter announced that she intended to skip his speech for the sake of a press conference on child safety in Brussels.

According to Politico, European officials and MEPs were "shocked" by von der Leyen's actions. One of the EU representatives called the refusal of the head of the European Commission “strange,” and MEP from Belgium Kathleen Van Brempt said that “this is not just impolite, but unacceptable.”

As a result of the pressure on Monday evening, von der Leyen's entourage reported that she had changed her mind at the last moment and decided to stay in Strasbourg. The meeting of the head of the European Commission with the Canadian Prime Minister has been postponed to Wednesday.