00:00We spoke exclusively on Euronews with the head of the European Parliament.
00:04She will be the host of that speech from the Canadian Prime Minister today.
00:08She said this is a complex, difficult world, and therefore you want to keep your good friends, like-minded partners,
00:14closely together.
00:15It's also interesting to me, and you're about to see it, she said associate membership.
00:20Yes, there are many question marks around how it works.
00:22Yes, it's not really in the books, but it could pave a third way for countries that want to be
00:29associated with the European Union, but cannot become members.
00:32She alluded to Australia, New Zealand, and I wonder, this is just my personal observation, but is there a debate
00:39too and a message aimed at the United Kingdom?
00:42Let's take a look.
00:44President, thank you so much for joining us on Euronews.
00:47The Canadian Prime Minister is about to address the European Parliament at your invitation.
00:51I also know you had a bilateral meeting yesterday.
00:55Why do this now?
00:56Why extend this invitation?
00:57Well, I think it was pretty impressive in a way that we would use, as a European Union, the State
01:02of the Union debate,
01:03the exchange with President von der Leyen to also do it with the Prime Minister of Canada, an ally, a
01:10friend, a country that shares our values,
01:13our love for democracy, our love for more trade, with specific emphasis of, as we saw, an openness that the
01:21European Union will show towards countries like Canada with associate membership.
01:25This is the reason why, as a European Parliament, we decided to open an antenna office in Ottawa, which means
01:33that we will, as a Parliament, intensivise our links with the Canadian Parliament.
01:39Because we have so much in common, we sometimes vote on exactly the same thing at the same time.
01:44We work together across all political groups with the different colleagues in the Canadian Parliament, and I can only see
01:52that, if I can say, the way is up from here.
01:54The way is up from here, and you are the head of the Parliament, so you know the treat is,
01:57well, pretty much better than anyone here.
01:59I don't know what associate membership looks like. To me, you're either a member of the EU or you're not,
02:04and you're waiting to join.
02:06What's this new partnership going to really be about?
02:08Well, actually, we have different forms, both in terms of whether you have countries who want to join the European
02:13Union or countries that are part of the European Economic Area,
02:17and in this case, countries with which we want to deepen our relationship, and that includes Canada,
02:22and I'm not, I don't doubt that that will also include other countries that will come, not only knocking at
02:28our door.
02:28Absolutely. We've already seen it, both in terms of legislation that we pass, where we see partners from across the
02:34world, Australia and New Zealand,
02:35being some examples of saying, look, we want to deepen our relationship.
02:39We're doing it in terms of trade. We're doing it in terms of conversation on what we do with social
02:43media, with children,
02:45with critical raw materials, alliances that can be forged.
02:48And I think in the global, sort of, in the big picture, and that's, I think, what we cannot let
02:53go in this time of such uncertainty,
02:55is that friends matter. And if we can do more things with our friends, then let's do them.
03:01And just to pick up on this point for our viewers, because this is really a moment of transformation,
03:04you are saying that there could be a third way. You're not a country that's part of the EU, you're
03:09not a waiting-in member,
03:10there is now a third way that will open with Canada.
03:12Absolutely. And in fact, one thing, the Prime Minister...
03:14That's a huge transformation.
03:15Absolutely. And in fact, that we always believe, and we say it, and we're proud that we say it,
03:19that when the European Union faces challenges, we stand up to defy and be stronger.
03:25And I think this is one of those moments.
03:26And in fact, the Prime Minister of Canada said that the interest in him coming to address the European Parliament
03:32has been huge in Canada,
03:34not only because we're close as countries individually with all our communities there,
03:40because all the European countries have representatives or former citizens who moved there in the past,
03:45but also because we're so close in the way we do our politics, so close in what we believe, that
03:50things can only improve.
03:52And we also see that reflected in the polls of Canadians when it comes to their impression of the EU.
03:56But I have to ask you, is this a partnership that is the result of legitimate interests or just born
04:01out of necessity?
04:02Because, of course, the timing is not a coincidence.
04:04There is a big trade war going on with the US and the Canadians.
04:07Is this a necessity or is this a real friendship?
04:10No, I think, first of all, it's always been a real friendship.
04:12We're not just discovering it now.
04:13Secondly, it's an addition.
04:16We're not talking that this is against anyone or any country in particular.
04:19But when friends come to us and say, let's do more, then we will be the first ones to fling
04:23open the door.
04:24And just a final point, you say this is not against anyone.
04:27Nonetheless, there is a concern that the president of the US could look at this and say,
04:31guys, you're teaming up against me.
04:33Do you fear that backlash?
04:35No.
04:35We have different trade relationships with different countries.
04:38We have a trade relationship and an agreement with the United States.
04:42And we will intensify our trade relationship with Canada.
04:45You don't see any reason for retaliation?
04:47No, no, no.
04:48We are equal partners.
04:49We want to deal with each other with equality, with dignity and respect.
04:53Well, President, thank you very much.
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