European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not attend a speech by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the European Parliament, according to politico.eu.
The report, published on Monday, gives no stated reason for her absence. No further details on the schedule or the speech itself were included in the material available.
The planned address comes as Ottawa pursues closer cooperation with Brussels. Carney has described the goal as a "unique alliance" with the European Union rather than membership, the National Post reports. The Globe and Mail similarly reports that Canada is seeking tighter ties with the bloc while preserving its own sovereignty.
The idea of deeper Canada-EU integration has drawn attention beyond official channels. The Guardian has published a piece arguing that Canada should become an EU state in all but name, and outlining how that could be achieved.
Public opinion in Canada appears open to the direction. Abacus Data reports that four in five Canadians support closer integration with the EU.
Von der Leyen's decision to skip the speech places a spotlight on the state of the relationship at a moment when Canada is actively courting European partners. Whether her absence signals anything about the Commission's stance is not addressed in the reporting.
What to watch next: whether the Commission offers any explanation for von der Leyen's non-attendance, and how Carney's remarks are received by the parliamentarians who do attend.
