LILLEY: Mark Carney wants to make Canada an ‘associate’ EU member

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is reportedly considering an "associate member" status with the European Union as tensions rise with the United States, according to a Wall Street Journal report. While this designation does not currently exist, the EU may be open to establishing new membership arrangements for Canada, according to unnamed EU and Canadian officials cited by the newspaper. The European Commission has not commented on the matter.

The report coincides with Carney's upcoming speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where he is expected to outline Canada's vision for its relationship with the EU in a challenging geopolitical landscape. Canada is currently engaged in a significant trade conflict with the US, characterized by high tariffs that show no signs of easing.

The EU and Canada are discussing ways to ease trade regulations for Canadian goods, services, and workers, with particular focus on energy, artificial intelligence, defense, and critical minerals, the report states. Major joint projects, such as undersea cables, data centers, cloud infrastructure, and satellite networks, are also under consideration. Canada is particularly interested in expanding its energy exports to Europe.

However, obtaining "associate member" status could be challenging due to the EU's strict membership requirements and lengthy process for amending existing arrangements. Nonetheless, the impact of the Trump presidency, which was marked by tariffs and threats on both sides of the Atlantic, may encourage the EU to adopt a more flexible approach.

Earlier this year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed an "associate member" status intended for Ukraine but potentially applicable to Canada. This model would deepen ties with the EU without necessitating full membership.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Carney will visit the French territory of Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon next week, located about 20 kilometers off Canada's Atlantic coast, as a gesture of support for their strong ties amid US tensions, Paris announced. The visit will underscore the shared values of France and Canada, including freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for national sovereignty, according to the Elysee Palace.

This will be the first visit by a Canadian prime minister to the archipelago, with the last French president to visit being Francois Hollande in 2014.