Carney pushes idea of making Canada ‘associate member’ of EU, reports WSJ

EU leaders are considering granting Canada associate membership status, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal. Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada is looking to strengthen ties with the European Union, which has not been flexible about membership rules. The European Union, however, is open to the idea, according to unnamed officials from both the EU and Canada.

This potential status change would allow for smoother movement of goods, services, and workers between Canada and the EU, particularly in sectors like energy, AI, defense, and critical minerals. Discussions also include building infrastructure like underwater cables, data centers, and satellite networks, as well as proposing visa-free travel for Canadians.

However, the task is complicated by the fact that many EU countries have yet to ratify a previous trade deal, signed over a decade ago.