EU wants Canada as its first ‘associate member,’ von der Leyen says

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared on Wednesday that Canada will be granted associate membership status within the EU. The announcement was made during her 2026 State of the Union address in Strasbourg, attended by MEPs and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney amid a trade conflict with the United States.

Canada, not a European state, shares values with the EU such as human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, which are prerequisites for non-full membership. Canada and the EU already collaborate in areas like defense, the single market, and several EU programs. Yet, the new status of associate member brings several unanswered questions, including whether Canada will have voting rights in EU institutions.

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously proposed an "associate membership" for Ukraine, aiming to grant it access to EU decision-making bodies without voting rights or a specific portfolio. Von der Leyen's announcement sends a political signal in a shifting world of historical alliances, highlighting democracy as the ultimate power.

The economic and security cooperation between the two partners is expected to deepen during a summit in Montreal in October.