EU wants Canada to become ‘associate member,’ von der Leyen says – POLITICO

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants Canada to become the first “associate member” of the European Union, she said in her annual State of the Union address on Wednesday.

“I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU,” von der Leyen said her speech to European lawmakers, which was attended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Von der Leyen also announced a comprehensive new “Alliance for the Future,” built on the existing EU-Canada trade deal that would “create a common prosperity and economic security space.”