Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, will not attend Mark Carney's speech, the Prime Minister of Canada, in the European Parliament on Thursday. Carney, in this speech scheduled for 11:30 AM local time, aims to create closer ties with the European Union. This move comes as relations between Canada and Washington have deteriorated.
Carney's Speech and Its Goals
Mark Carney will outline his requests from Brussels ahead of the Canada-EU summit in October during this speech. This summit could be a key opportunity to strengthen cooperation and trade negotiations between the two sides. Carney will emphasize the importance of addressing new challenges and opportunities for collaboration between Canada and the European Union.
Carney will also attend von der Leyen's annual speech on the state of the European Union on Wednesday. Therefore, von der Leyen's absence from Carney's speech is due to her prior commitments. According to Paula Pinho, the Chief Spokesperson for the Commission, von der Leyen must return to Brussels due to these commitments, one of which is to hold a press conference on the Online Safety Initiative for Children.
Representation of the European Commission in Parliament
In von der Leyen's absence, the European Commission will be represented by Maroš Šefčovič, the Commissioner for Trade, who is considered one of von der Leyen's closest collaborators. This type of representation is typically carried out in all key speeches and discussions in the European Parliament, as the Commission consists of 27 members and is present in parliamentary sessions.
On Thursdays, when parliamentary sessions are held in Strasbourg, the majority of Commission members return to Brussels, and only a small group of Commissioners remain in France for final discussions. These decisions reflect the political priorities and commitments of Commission members to various issues.
Given the current conditions and global challenges, strengthening relations between Canada and the European Union could benefit both sides and contribute to creating a more sustainable future. Carney's speech in this context could play a vital role.
