All smiles in Strasbourg but uncertainty clouds Canada’s EU membership plan

Although Mark Carney welcomed offer to become bloc’s first associate member, no one seems to know what that means

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Mark Carney received a rapturous reception in the European parliament when he gave his speech on Thursday welcoming a proposal for Canada to become the EU’s first-ever associate member.

Politicians queued to shake his hand and take selfies. One MEP leader described the speech as a historic moment. “Europe has extended a hand, and Canada has taken it,” said the German Green MEP Terry Reintke, who borrowed a Canadian ice hockey shirt for the occasion.