Key facts
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not attend Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's address to the European Parliament on Thursday.
- Carney will speak to lawmakers on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. CET.
- Maroš Šefčovič, Trade Commissioner, will represent the Commission during Carney's speech.
- Von der Leyen has prior commitments, including a press conference on child online safety.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not attend Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's address to the European Parliament on Thursday, September 14, 2026. Carney is scheduled to speak to lawmakers at 11:30 a.m. CET, aiming to foster closer ties with the European Union amidst strained relations with Washington. His address is anticipated to outline his priorities for the EU ahead of an upcoming Canada-EU summit in October. The Canadian Prime Minister is expected to attend von der Leyen’s annual State of the Union speech the day prior. The Commission will be represented by Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, a close associate of von der Leyen, during Carney's address, according to the Commission's chief spokesperson, Paula Pinho. Von der Leyen's absence is due to prior commitments, including a press conference concerning the child online safety initiative. Typically, the Commission is represented by one of its 27 members during key addresses and debates in the European Parliament. During Strasbourg sessions on Thursdays, most commissioners return to Brussels, with a smaller contingent remaining in France for final plenary debates.