DUBLIN, IRELAND - Prime Minister Mark Carney told the Summit of the European Political Community in Dublin on November 12, 2026 that Canada is working toward becoming the European Union’s first Associate Member, building on a closer alliance with Europe that he said is now delivering for Canadians.
Carney represented Canada at the 9th Summit of the European Political Community, where leaders focused on economic resilience and competitiveness, mutual security and support for Ukraine. The European Political Community is a forum of European leaders that meets to discuss shared security and economic challenges.
Last month, at the Canada-European Union Summit in Montreal, Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa launched the Alliance for the Future, a coalition focused on building resilience and reinforcing sovereignty. Canada and the EU are now working toward the deepest possible partnership short of accession, with Canada becoming the EU’s first Associate Member. Leaders launched more than 20 new initiatives at the Montreal summit.
On the margins of the Dublin summit, Carney met the leaders of Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Latvia and Sweden, where the discussions focused on deepening economic ties, opening new markets and strengthening supply chains. He also joined a meeting co-hosted by United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Carney reaffirmed Canada’s support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression.
The Prime Minister’s Office pointed to concrete results from the closer relationship. In February 2026, Canada became the first non-European country to join the EU’s SAFE defence instrument, which funds joint defence procurement. In June, Montreal-based Marconi Technologies secured the first contract under SAFE to supply Canadian-made ORION tactical radios for Poland’s Cyber Command. In October, Montreal-based Galvion secured a contract worth more than $44 million to supply military helmets to Latvia.
Canada has also secured several long-term liquefied natural gas supply arrangements with European buyers, including Germany’s SEFE and Uniper, France’s TotalEnergies and the United Kingdom’s Shell and Centrica. Together the agreements represent up to 8 million tonnes of Canadian LNG a year over 20 years, starting in 2032, pending a final investment decision on the Ksi Lisims LNG project. Shell is also a leading partner in the LNG Canada project.
The EU is Canada’s second-largest global trading partner for goods and services. Bilateral trade increased by 10 percent from 2024 to 2025, reaching approximately $178 billion. EU foreign direct investment stock in Canada was estimated at $219 billion in 2025, while Canadian direct investment in the EU totalled $315 billion.
“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.”
For Surrey, a city with deep trade ties to Asia and Europe, the diversification push matters: a closer Canada-EU relationship means more markets for B.C. exporters and more supply-chain options for local businesses as Canada reduces its reliance on the United States. Carney continues his trip to the Philippines, Cambodia and China, where he will advance new trade agreements.
Source: Prime Minister of Canada
