Von der Leyen fleshes out Carney’s vision to paint Europe as leader of world’s middle powers

BRUSSELS ― Ursula von der Leyen used a major speech on Wednesday to pitch Europe as the leader of a group of like-minded countries that want to hold their own against rival powers such as Russia and China. Not invited to join this EU-led coalition? Donald Trump’s United States. Speaking before an audience that included Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has publicly fallen out with Trump, the European Commission president spelled out her vision of Europe as a geopolitical leader with plans for new partnerships and closer relationships — the most notable of which was offering to explore possible “associate EU membership” status for Canada, in what would amount to a major first for the EU.