Canada welcomes EU proposal to become 'associate member'

Canadian leader Mark Carney welcomed a European Commission proposal to make Canada the EU’s first "associate member," arguing in Strasbourg that closer cooperation on defence, critical minerals and energy security would strengthen democratic allies amid rising geopolitical tensions. He urged deep collaboration on strategic capabilities, supply chains, liquefied natural gas and hydrogen exports to bolster European energy security, and suggested pooling technology resources and expanding people-to-people ties - including participation in Erasmus+ - while stressing Canada does not seek full EU membership or to form a rival bloc. Carney framed the move as protecting sovereignty against the "weaponisation of trade" and financial coercion and said the idea would be debated and voted on in the Canadian parliament.

The proposal from EU chief Ursula von der Leyen is novel: "associate member" status does not exist today and would require unanimous approval by all 27 EU states and likely years to design and implement. Canada and the EU already have a free-trade agreement and cooperate on trade, defence and research, but the plan has provoked pushback from the US president, who called it "laughable" and warned of heavy tariffs if deemed hostile. A Canada‑EU summit in Montreal in October is slated to flesh out details.