EU opens door for Canada to become its first associate member, von der Leyen says
Von der Leyen said the new partnership would span manufacturing, defense and energy, and could give Canada access to some EU programs.
- On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed that Canada become the European Union's first "associate member" during her State of the European Union address in Strasbourg, France.
- This overture follows a historic breakdown in Canada-U.S. trade relations last month, as President Donald Trump's tariffs and rhetoric about making Canada the 51st state pushed Ottawa to seek closer European ties.
- Von der Leyen stated the EU and Canada will build on their existing CETA agreement by creating an "Alliance for the Future" aimed at establishing "a common prosperity and economic security space."
- Receiving a standing ovation from European lawmakers on Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to address the European Parliament on Thursday regarding this "unique alliance."
- Responding to a "fracture in the international rules-based system," von der Leyen noted the partnership is "not against anyone else" to avoid antagonizing the United States.
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I want to work with Prime Minister Mark Carney to pave the way for Canada to become an associate member of the European Union, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
EU Wants Canada to Come a Little Closer
Canada may be an ocean away, but Europe is celebrating if it should act more like the 28th member. The European Union on Wednesday floated making Canada its first-ever "associate member," an undefined status leading to formalize a thinking relationship as both sides contend with fearing ties to the United...
Von der Leyen invites Canada to become EU associate member
STRASBOURG — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that Canada has been invited to become the first “associate member” of the European Union.She announced the move during her 2026 State of the Union address in Strasbourg, to an audience including not only MEPs but also Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who attended her speech in the midst of a trade war with the United States.Von der Leyen said she wanted to wor…
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