Prime Minister Mark Carney continued his push for closer economic and security ties between Canada and Europe at a political summit in Ireland on Thursday.
The prime minister also met with the leaders of two of the nine European nations that have yet to ratify a decade-old trade deal.
Carney was in Dublin for a meeting of the European Political Community, an informal gathering of leaders from around Europe that has occurred every six months since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
On the sidelines, he sat down with both Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss negotiations to strengthen Canadian-European ties.
Greece and Cyprus have not yet ratified the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Christodoulides indicated that could soon change, at least for his nation.
“I want to mention this publicly. We are doing whatever is necessary in order to pass the agreement, (the) free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada, which is very important for both of us,” he said during a photo op ahead of his private conversation with Carney.
Both countries have held back for reasons that include questions about protected origins for cheeses — such as whether Canadian-made products can be called feta or halloumi.
Christodoulides said the meeting was the first between a Canadian prime minister and a Cypriot president in 80 years. He said it reflects the “pro-European Canadian approach” under Carney’s leadership.
Carney also had informal discussions, known as pull-asides, with French President Emmanuel Macron and the leaders of Latvia, Ireland and Denmark. France and Ireland also have not ratified CETA, which effectively has been in place since 2017.
Carney’s trip to Dublin marks the second time Canada has been invited to the European Political Community meeting. And for the second time, Canada was the only non-European country represented at the table.
Since the last meeting in May in Armenia, Carney and European Union leaders have pitched making Canada an “associate member” of the EU — a title they have yet to define.
Carney told reporters Thursday morning that the summit could help advance his goal of boosting affordability and economic opportunities for Canadians through new partnerships with Europe.
“It delivers opportunity — opportunity for our youth, for our artists, for companies. It will deliver affordability, cutting red tape, more competition in Canada, more goods, more choice and security,” he said in English.
Thursday’s summit included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who briefed Carney and a dozen European leaders on the state of negotiations with Russia.
The Ukrainian leader discussed this week’s talks in Abu Dhabi with Russian officials organized by U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Zelenskyy had not presented a public summary of those talks by Thursday evening. His briefing took place as Witkoff and Kushner were in Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Witkoff and Kushner are expected to fly to Dublin to meet with Zelenskyy.
Carney said it’s up to Europe to craft arrangements that will secure an eventual peace, with support from countries like Canada.
These “security guarantees” can include promises to provide troops to ensure a ceasefire holds, or to defend a country if it is invaded.
“Security guarantees are a European responsibility, with Canada, with the United States. So there are tiers for security guarantees,” Carney said in French.
The Associated Press reports that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Thursday that the U.S., Europe and Ukraine are “very much aligned” on what the security guarantees should look like once a viable peace is established.
The United Kingdom has convened Canada, Australia, Japan and numerous EU countries in what it calls a coalition of the willing aimed at providing military support to Ukraine once a ceasefire is in place.
Carney spoke briefly with reporters at the start of Thursday’s meetings, but most of the plenary was not broadcast. He is expected to give a press conference in coming days.
The summit’s Irish hosts have locked down a section of central Dublin for what they are calling its largest ever gathering of international leaders. Police boats have been patrolling the River Liffey and there is a visible security presence across the city.
Schools, newsrooms and an airline have reported receiving bomb threats which local authorities have said are not credible.
Carney is set to leave for Asia Thursday evening.
He will attend a summit in the Philippines focused on regional issues, followed by the Francophonie summit in Cambodia.
The Francophonie summit will also include Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, whose minority government was elected on a sovereigntist platform.
Plamondon has said he wants to conduct diplomacy on Quebec’s behalf instead of leaving it to the prime minister.
On the sidelines of Thursday’s meeting, Macron said he looks forward to speaking with all representatives to the Francophonie at the upcoming summit.
“It is not my place to interfere in Canadian affairs, but rather to continue supporting our shared affinities, including our cultural and linguistic ties,” he said in French.
Carney said he did not attend this week’s UN Climate Conference in Turkiye — better known as COP31 — because the leaders’ day fell on Nov. 11.
“It was more important to be at Remembrance Day to honour the women and men of the Canadian Forces who served our country, who stood for democracy, often in Europe, [and] supported our rights,” he said.
Carney added that his environment minister will help advance Canadian interests on electrification, saying it’s a major theme of the summit in Turkiye.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2026
Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
