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

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, suggested the possibility of Canada becoming the EU's first associate member during her speech at the European Parliament. Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has previously expressed interest in a "unique alliance" with the EU, and the two nations share concerns about various global issues, such as AI, climate change, and geopolitics.

The EU and Canada have collaborated on matters like defence, energy, and supply chains. However, Canada does not currently have a formal association with the EU, and establishing this would likely be a lengthy process. The European Commission president emphasized that such an arrangement would not be a partnership against any other nation, but rather a strategic choice for Europe's strength.

Carney noted that the EU and Canada "see the world with the same eyes" on numerous matters. The EU has been facing challenges with the US over trade and threats from US President Donald Trump, including his proposal to make Canada the '51st state.' The EU has been seeking allies in dealing with these issues, and Carney has been a reliable ally, especially in confronting Trump's aggressive tariff policies and his threat to annex Greenland, a territory of Denmark, which is an EU member.

The EU has also been discussing various proposals to address global challenges, including creating a European Security Council involving countries like Canada, the UK, Ukraine, and others to counter Russian threats.