EU offers Canada associate membership

The European Union has proposed making Canada its first-ever “associate member” as Brussels seeks deeper cooperation with Ottawa on trade, defence, technology and other strategic areas.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the proposal on Wednesday during her State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney present.

Von der Leyen said the EU and Canada share common values and interests, including democracy, climate policy, artificial intelligence, defence and geopolitical cooperation.

The proposal would create a new form of relationship between Canada and the EU, rather than full EU membership. The exact rights and obligations of such an arrangement have yet to be defined and would require further discussions and approval within the bloc.

The move follows efforts by Carney’s government to strengthen Canada’s economic and security ties with Europe amid strained relations with the United States.

Carney had previously said Canada was seeking a “unique alliance” with the EU rather than full membership.

The proposed partnership could deepen cooperation in areas including technology, manufacturing, defence, energy, critical minerals and Arctic development. Canada has already joined the EU’s €150 billion SAFE defence programme, which supports joint defence procurement.

Canada and the EU are also expected to continue discussions on their economic relationship, including the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

The two sides are expected to discuss the proposed arrangement further at a Canada-EU summit in Montreal in October.

The proposal marks a significant development in Canada-EU relations, but it does not mean Canada has joined the European Union. The bloc has never previously established an “associate member” category, meaning the structure and scope of any future arrangement remain under negotiation.

(Reuters)