European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen (left) shakes hands with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney during her annual keynote address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. (AFP pic)MONTREAL: Canadian and EU leaders meet in Montreal this week for a summit aimed at deepening their alliance as both sides navigate tumultuous relations with the US.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said "Europe and Canada are stronger together," in an address to the EU Parliament last month, after EU chief Ursula von der Leyen suggested Canada could become the 27-nation bloc's first "associate member".
Leaders at the two-day Montreal meeting will try to hammer out specifics for closer ties in areas including defence, artificial intelligence and critical minerals.
