EU chief opens door for Canada to become 'associate member'

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has expressed openness to the idea of Canada becoming an associate member of the EU. During her speech at the European Parliament, von der Leyen suggested working towards opening the door for Canada, which would involve closer ties in various key sectors. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had previously spoken of seeking a unique alliance with the EU, noting the tense relations with the US under Donald Trump.

Von der Leyen emphasized that offering Canada some form of EU membership is not a partnership against anyone else, but rather for the EU's common strength. She stated that partnerships are a strategic choice for Europe but also respond to the fracture in the international rules-based system. Trade talks between Canada and the US collapsed last month, leading to new tariff measures, and Carney's renewed interest in the EU is linked to his opposition to Trump.

Both the EU and Canada share similar views on various issues, including AI, climate change, geopolitics, and democracy. The EU has also faced trade tariffs under Trump's administration, and von der Leyen proposed the formation of a European Security Council, which would include the UK and Ukraine, in response to the threat from Russia.

This initiative is seen as even more urgent due to the current risks at play, and von der Leyen intends to present the ideas for a European Security Council in the near future.