Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney used a summit of European leaders in Dublin on Thursday to press ahead with Canada's bid to become the European Union's first associate member, arguing that closer ties with Europe will bring more choice, lower costs and new opportunities for Canadians.

Carney was the only leader from outside Europe at the 9th Summit of the European Political Community, a forum set up in 2022 after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It was his second time attending the gathering, and his first trip to Europe since Canada confirmed last month that it is working towards associate membership of the EU.

Only non-European voice at the table

Leaders at the Dublin summit focused on economic resilience and competitiveness, mutual security and support for Ukraine. On the margins, Carney met the leaders of Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Latvia and Sweden, with talks centred on deepening economic ties, opening new markets and strengthening supply chains.

He also spoke with the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, about strengthening Canada-EU relations. Greece and Cyprus are among the EU countries that have not yet ratified the Canada-EU trade agreement, known as CETA, and Carney has been pressing for progress on that front.

Carney also took part in a meeting co-hosted by the British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, and the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on efforts to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. He reaffirmed Canada's unwavering support for Ukraine and underlined the importance of reinforcing collective defence and transatlantic security.

Associate membership and the Montreal deal

The Dublin visit built on the Canada-EU Summit held in Montreal in October, where Carney joined European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa to launch the Alliance for the Future, a coalition aimed at building resilience and reinforcing sovereignty on both sides of the Atlantic. More than 20 new initiatives were announced at that summit, covering digital trade, advanced technologies, energy, critical minerals, defence and investment.

Canada and the EU are now working towards what the Canadian government describes as the deepest possible partnership short of accession, with Canada becoming the EU's first associate member. The label has no legal status in the EU's founding treaties and has drawn objections from some member states, but von der Leyen has said the new relationship will be worked out in the months ahead.

The economic stakes are considerable. The EU is Canada's second-largest trading partner for goods and services, with bilateral trade rising by 10 percent from 2024 to 2025 to reach approximately $178 billion. EU investment stock in Canada was estimated at $219 billion in 2025, while Canadian direct investment in the EU totalled $315 billion.

Defence, energy and the auto sector

Defence cooperation has already moved ahead. In February 2026 Canada became the first non-European country to join the EU's SAFE defence instrument, and Canadian firms have since won contracts under it, including a deal worth more than $44 million for a Montreal-based company to supply military helmets to Latvia. Canada has also secured long-term liquefied natural gas supply arrangements with European buyers, representing up to 8 million tonnes a year over 20 years from 2032.

Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Carney said he expected more European partnerships with Canada's auto sector to come out of the growing relationship. He also said Chinese investment in the Canadian auto sector would be on the agenda when he meets China's President Xi Jinping next week in Shenzhen, where China is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

What happens next

Carney left Dublin on Thursday evening for a tour of Asia that takes in the Philippines, Cambodia and China, where he will advance new trade agreements. He told reporters he had not attended this week's UN climate conference in Turkey because its leaders' day fell on 11 November.

"Our alliance with the European Union is built on shared history, common values, and mutual respect," Carney said. "We're working together at speed to forge an ambitious new partnership that will give our citizens more choice, more opportunity, and a more affordable future. That is what sovereignty looks like."

Source: Prime Minister of Canada | The Canadian Press: Carney wraps meetings on security, trade with European leaders in Ireland