Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday said he was pursuing unprecedented closeness with the European Union to reduce its dependence on its economically hostile neighbor, but not a membership with the bloc.

"We're not looking to become a member of the European Union," Carney told reporters at the Toronto International Film Festival.

"What we are looking — and will begin discussions for — is a unique ​alliance between Canada and the European Union," he said. "We share the same values, we have the same priorities and ​we have very complementary strengths."

Carney's clarification came after a report by the Wall Street Journal claimed he was exploring whether Canada could become an "associate member" of the bloc. The newspaper reported that the EU was open to the idea of granting Canada associate membership — a status it would have to create for the North American nation. 

Carney's mission EU

The remarks precede the Canadian prime minister's scheduled trip to France this week.

In Strasbourg, France, Carney will become the first head of government to attend the "State of the European Union" address before delivering his own speech at the European Parliament.

His visit is a "tremendous symbol," said Tobias Cremer, a European lawmaker from Germany and the main sponsor of a March resolution calling for stronger EU-Canada cooperation.

"Canada has many of the resources that Europe is very much short of, whether it's in terms of energy, whether it's rare earths (and) raw minerals," Cremer said.

Canada is already the first non-EU Nation to join the bloc's defense procurement program, while Carney was involved in Canada joining the Eurovision Song Contest for 2027.

Meanwhile, Montreal is set to host an EU-Canada summit where Carney said discussions will begin on building a "much stronger and deeper economic and security partnership."

Canada's increasing closeness with the EU comes when the country is in the middle of an escalating trade war with its largest trading partner and neighbor, the United States. 

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