The European Union has opened the door to a closer relationship with Canada, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposing that the country become the bloc’s first “associate member.”
Von der Leyen made the proposal during her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was present. She highlighted the shared values and interests between Canada and the EU, including cooperation on defence, technology, energy and other strategic areas.
The proposal comes as Canada seeks to strengthen its relationships with European partners and diversify its international economic and security partnerships. Carney has previously described his goal as building a “unique alliance” with the European Union rather than pursuing full EU membership.
An associate-member status does not currently exist under EU treaties, meaning the details of any such arrangement would still need to be worked out. Discussions could cover areas such as trade, artificial intelligence, defence, critical minerals, energy and Arctic cooperation.
Canada and the EU have already expanded cooperation in recent years. Canada joined the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative in February 2026, becoming the first non-European country to participate in the programme. Both sides are also preparing for a Canada-EU summit scheduled for October 29–30, 2026.
The proposed closer relationship reflects growing efforts by both sides to deepen economic and strategic cooperation. However, the precise rights and obligations of any future “associate member” arrangement remain to be determined.
