The European Parliament is to open an “antenna” office in Canada’s national capital as Prime Minister Mark Carney looks to deepen ties with the 27-member bloc.
CBC News reports that in a news release on Monday, Robert Metsola, president of the European Parliament, said: “Europe and Canada share values, interests and a commitment to the same rules-based international order. Our new presence in Ottawa will turn that partnership into even closer parliamentary co-operation.”
The parliament is a representative body of elected members from the states that make up the EU. The EU already has an embassy in Ottawa, but it’s run by the European Commission which is the executive branch of the bloc and separate from the parliament.
Carney said on Sunday that his government plans to begin discussions for a “unique alliance” with the European Union – but not membership – as he gears up to address the European Parliament this week.
“What we are looking – and will begin discussions for – [is] a unique alliance with the European Union. We share the same values, we have the same priorities and we have very complementary strengths,” he said.
A senior Canadian official, who offered information to CBC News on a not-for-attribution basis, said there have been ongoing conversations about how Canada can deepen its relationship with Europe with the goal of greater sovereignty for Canada.
The official said Canada is not trying to give up its independence for access, and the federal government is less concerned about the label and more about what deepened ties can achieve for the country.
The official said the “associate member” label is one of a few that have been considered and that Canada did not propose it. The official added that the government is still examining what the relationship could look like, and hopes to more clearly sketch it out at the EU-Canada summit at the end of October.
