EU opens door for Canada to become first associate member

Ursula von der Leyen told Mark Carney she wants Canada to become the EU's first associate member. The proposal signals a wider Canada-EU push on trade, security and strategic autonomy.

In Short

• Ottawa is seeking stronger European ties amid pressure from Washington
• Trump's tariffs and annexation remarks have accelerated Canada's trade diversification
• Carney received a standing ovation before his European Parliament address

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday told Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that she wants to open the door for Canada to become the European Union’s first associate member. The proposal comes as Ottawa looks to deepen economic and security ties with Europe.

The move follows US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his repeated remarks about making Canada the 51st state, which have pushed Canada to reduce its heavy dependence on US trade. Carney has called for a “unique alliance” with the EU.

Speaking during her annual State of the European Union address, von der Leyen told Carney, “I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada being the first associate member of the EU.” Carney received a standing ovation from European lawmakers and is due to address the European Parliament on Thursday.

Von der Leyen said Canada and the EU would build on their existing free trade agreement, known as CETA, with a broader “Alliance for the Future” aimed at creating “a common prosperity and economic security space”. She said the closer relationship would be based not only on trade, but also on shared democratic values.

“Above all, dear Mark, Europe and Canada believe in democracy,” von der Leyen said. “We believe that power does not belong to the strongest, the richest or the loudest, but to all of us. That democracies have the freedom to choose with whom to work.” She said the expanded partnership would cover advanced manufacturing, technology, defence production, the Arctic, energy, critical minerals, batteries, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity and economic security.

Describing the proposed ties as broader and deeper, von der Leyen said, “This is a partnership not against anyone else, but for our common strength. In short, we want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible.” The outreach underlines the EU’s push to deepen cooperation with Canada across trade, security and key strategic sectors.

With PTI Inputs

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