The Danger of Diplomatic Platitudes: Carney's EU Alliance Needs Substance, Not Slogans

Prime Minister Mark Carney is currently framing his relationship with Europe through the lens of ambition. As CBC News first reported, Carney described the goal of the Montreal summit in a written statement released Sunday as the creation of a "new, ambitious alliance" designed to build resilience for citizens and ensure that "no one can dictate our choices."

While these sentiments make for stirring rhetoric, they risk masking a lack of concrete deliverables. As an investigative observer of accountability, I find the Prime Minister's preference for lofty terminology—such as his "alliance of the future" phrasing used during a speech to the European Parliament—concerning when compared to the stalled realities of Canada-EU relations.

According to reporting from CBC News, the most glaring failure of the current partnership is the inability to fully implement the Canada-European Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Signed in 2016 and provisionally active since 2017, CETA remains incomplete because nine EU member states have yet to ratify the treaty in their legislatures. CBC News notes that the holdouts include Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, and Poland. If Carney's "ambitious alliance" cannot resolve the deadlock of a treaty signed a decade ago, the term "alliance" becomes a diplomatic platitude rather than a strategic asset.

Furthermore, the debate over Canada's formal status within the bloc suggests a disconnect between European aspirations and Canadian reality. CBC News reports that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested the possibility of Canada becoming the EU's first "associate member." While Carney welcomed the "ambition" of this proposal, former Liberal leader and former EU special envoy Stéphane Dion warned CBC News that the concept of "associate membership" is unlikely to succeed. Dion noted that such a title implies a surrender of sovereignty that would be rejected in Canada, while European partners might view it as Canada gaining the benefits of the union without the accompanying financial or regulatory obligations.

To avoid the "depressing" outcome of a communiqué that merely promises to "continue to continue," as Dion warned CBC News, the Prime Minister must secure specific, measurable wins. There are clear paths to tangible results that do not require the surrender of sovereignty. These include:

1. **Professional Mobility:** Carney has expressed interest in Erasmus+, the European exchange program for students and workers. 2. **Digital Trade:** CBC News reports that Canada and the EU are currently working on a digital trade agreement to reduce frictions regarding e-signatures, e-contracts, paperless trade, and secure cross-border data flows. 3. **Alternative Integration:** Rather than the contentious "associate membership," Dion suggested Canada seek "official observer" status or full membership in the European Political Community, a forum for non-member states that meets twice a year.

Incoming ambassador to the European Union Jonathan Wilkinson told CBC News that the government is focused on "driving results" and that the specific terminology used to describe the relationship is secondary. However, in the realm of international diplomacy, terminology often signals intent. If Carney continues to prioritize the "ambition" of the alliance over the ratification of CETA and the establishment of clear mobility and trade protocols, Canada is not securing a future—it is simply polishing a mirror.