EU Proposes Canada as First Associate Member Amid US Tensions
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen proposes Canada as the bloc's first associate member, signaling deeper ties amid shared tensions with the US.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed that Canada become the European Union's first associate member, a move that would deepen ties between the two allies as they navigate strained relations with the United States.
Speaking during her annual State of the European Union address in Strasbourg on Wednesday, von der Leyen told Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that she wants to work with him on opening the door for Canada to join the bloc in an associate capacity.
"I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada being the first associate member of the EU," von der Leyen said, addressing Carney directly during the address.
Carney, who was present for the speech, received a standing ovation from European lawmakers. He is scheduled to address the European Parliament on Thursday.
The proposal comes as both the EU and Canada confront growing tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, making the development a sign of deepening cooperation between the two partners.
The associate membership offer, if pursued, would mark a new chapter in EU-Canada relations, though the specifics of what such a status would entail remain to be defined.