Key facts
- Ursula von der Leyen faced criticism for a scheduling conflict involving Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech.
- Von der Leyen's team initially planned for her to miss Carney's address but later announced she would attend.
- Canada's Ambassador-designate to the EU Jonathan Wilkinson confirmed Ottawa had requested von der Leyen's presence.
- The incident occurred during a week of significant diplomatic events for von der Leyen and as the EU and Canada seek to strengthen ties.
- Speculation about Canada seeking "associate membership" in the EU has been denied by Carney, who instead seeks a "unique alliance."
- A senior Canadian official stated that the "associate" label was a European suggestion.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faced a diplomatic backlash after a scheduling conflict initially led her to plan missing the speech of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to the European Parliament. The incident, which occurred on September 15, 2026, has been branded "unacceptable" by a leading MEP and highlights the complexities in deepening EU-Canada relations.
Von der Leyen's team made a last-minute decision on Monday night to announce she would remain in Strasbourg for Carney's address, reversing an earlier plan to return to Brussels for a press conference on child safety. This change came after Canada's Ambassador-designate to the EU, Jonathan Wilkinson, confirmed that Ottawa had requested von der Leyen's presence for Carney's speech, noting it would be reciprocal given Carney's attendance at her address.
The episode unfolded during a week of carefully orchestrated events for the Commission president and as Brussels and Ottawa are attempting to forge closer ties. Carney, who has positioned himself as a leader of "middle power" nations, was set to address the European Parliament after attending von der Leyen's speech, a move seen as a significant diplomatic coup for the Commission president.
While von der Leyen does not typically attend other leaders' speeches in the hemicycle, she did so for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2024, setting a precedent. This made her initial decision to skip Carney's speech particularly surprising to MEPs and EU officials. One EU official described the brush-off as "weird," while Belgian MEP Kathleen Van Brempt stated, "Really, von der Leyen? That’s more than bad manners. It’s unacceptable." European Parliament President Roberta Metsola acknowledged questions surrounding the decision but declined to judge.
The scheduling drama also occurred amid speculation about the future of EU-Canada relations, including reports of Canada seeking "associate membership." Carney has denied pursuing such a status, instead advocating for a "unique alliance." A senior Canadian official, however, suggested that the "associate" label was initially proposed by the European side during talks to strengthen bilateral ties. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, who has previously expressed skepticism about Canadian membership, was reportedly not involved in these discussions.