European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to skip Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech to the European Parliament this Thursday. This absence marks a notable scheduling conflict for the high-profile event. Carney will address lawmakers in Strasbourg at 11:30 a.m.
He aims to foster closer ties with the European Union. These efforts come amidst challenging relations with Washington. Carney is expected to outline Canada’s priorities for Brussels ahead of an anticipated Canada-EU summit in October.
Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will represent the Commission during Carney’s address. He steps in as President von der Leyen skips the Carney speech due to “prior commitments” in Brussels, according to Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho. Šefčovič is considered one of von der Leyen’s most trusted lieutenants.
President von der Leyen will not be in Strasbourg on Thursday. She must return to the Belgian capital for various engagements. One such commitment involves a press conference focused on the child online safety initiative, Pinho explained.
The Commission routinely ensures one of its 27 members represents it. This occurs during all Parliament keynote addresses and debates. Typically, during Strasbourg sessions on Thursdays, most Commissioners return to Brussels. A smaller group usually remains in France for final plenary discussions.
Carney’s visit follows his attendance at von der Leyen’s annual State of the Union speech. This underscores growing engagement between Canada and the EU. New agreements on defense and critical raw materials are anticipated, signaling deepening relations between the two blocs.
