The trip puts him back on the European stage as relations with Washington reel from tariffs, threats and personal attacks since trade talks collapsed.

Carney will speak to lawmakers on Thursday at 11.30 a.m. as he seeks closer ties with the EU amid deteriorating relations with Washington. He is expected to set out his wishlist for Brussels ahead of a Canada-EU summit in October. The address comes a day after he will attend von der Leyen’s annual State of the Union speech.

Prime Minister Mark Carney to meet leaders in Europe this week as he tries to reduce his country’s dependence on the US

Canada Intensifying Efforts to Join EU as US Trade Fight Intensifies

In a rapidly changing world, Canada’s new government is focused on what we can control. We are building our strength at home and diversifying our partnerships abroad. Our European allies are natural partners in this effort.

Prime Minister Mark Carney described Canada as the “most European of non-European countries” at a joint summit in Brussels last summer. This eye-raising remark led some political pundits and columnists (including me) to speculate that his personal mission wasn’t to improve relations with the U.