Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, faced a diplomatic issue during Mark Carney's visit, the Prime Minister of Canada, to Strasbourg. She had initially planned to return to Brussels after her speech on the state of the European Union, which caused her to overlook Carney's speech. However, her team decided at the last minute to change the schedule and announced that she would remain in Strasbourg.
Timing Issues Arise
Carney is set to speak with members of the European Parliament on Wednesday, and as a global leader on issues related to middle-power countries, he is looking to establish closer ties with the European Union. A confirmation from Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's Ambassador to the European Union, stated that he had asked von der Leyen to attend Carney's speech. Wilkinson said, "We had indicated that on our part, given that he would be speaking after von der Leyen, it would be good for him to also be present for her speech."
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Reactions from Representatives and Officials
This incident occurred during a critical week for von der Leyen, as Brussels and Ottawa are working to strengthen their relations. Some members of the European Parliament harshly criticized her behavior, with one Belgian representative stating, "Really, von der Leyen? This is more than rude. This is unacceptable." Additionally, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, also commented on the matter, saying, "I spoke with her, but it is not customary for her to stay the next day. I think there were many questions."
The timing issue clearly indicated disorganization in the planning, and while von der Leyen typically does not attend other leaders' speeches, given Carney's position, her presence was expected. Sources say that Carney is trying to create a "unique coalition" with the European Union, and thus this absence could have implications for future relations.
This issue has also fueled discussions regarding Canada's potential membership in the European Union. There are speculations that Canada is seeking "associate membership" in the EU, although Carney has denied this claim, stating that his goal is to create a "unique coalition" with the European Union.
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