Spain’s PM shares cryptic EU maple leaf image as Canada moves closer to Europe

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted an image combining the European Union flag with a red maple leaf Thursday as Canada pursues deeper ties with Europe.

The post came as Prime Minister Mark Carney said an enhanced Canada-EU partnership would be debated and face a final vote in Parliament.

Speaking at a news conference in Strasbourg, France, Carney said Canada is not seeking full membership in the European Union.

Canadian officials have previously played down descriptions of the proposed relationship as “associate member” status, and a formal name for the partnership has not yet been finalised.

Carney and Sanchez have already pledged to strengthen ties between Canada and Spain.

During a summit in Armenia in May, the leaders agreed to increase co-operation on defence, energy and infrastructure. The two countries have also pledged to double bilateral trade.

Carney and Sanchez previously exchanged jerseys from their countries’ national football teams as a gesture of closer relations.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he viewed the possibility of Canada becoming an EU associate member as a “hostile act” in the ongoing trade dispute and threatened further tariffs against Europe.

Carney said closer ties with Europe would make Canada a “better partner with the United States.”