On Wednesday, Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament that she backs a plan for Canada to become the EU’s first associate member. The president of the European Commission said she wants to work on “opening the door”, which would bring Canada and the EU closer together across manufacturing, technology, AI, defence, energy, critical minerals and economic security.
Canada is facing a difficult relationship with the US, which includes a collapsing trade deal and a feud over Trump’s repeated talk of making Canada a “51st state.”. The proposal was framed by Von der Leyen as a strategic choice for Europe, not a partnership against anyone else.
Von der Leyen’s Speech in Strasbourg
Von der Leyen made the proposal during her State of the Union address. She told the bloc and Canada “see the world with the same eyes” on topics ranging from AI to climate change and geopolitics. She also noted that Canada had stood with the EU on Ukraine, defence, raw materials and supply chains.
“And we have stood together: on Ukraine, on defence, on raw materials and on supply chains. But above all… Europe and Canada believe in democracy.”
No specifics were offered about how the arrangement would operate. If it is approved, the process could span a number of years.
Carney’s Presence at the Speech
The Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, attended the annual keynote speech in Strasbourg, where he is set to address the parliament on Thursday. Carney recently said he wants to find a “unique alliance” with the EU.
Carney has emerged as a trusted partner for European leaders dealing with shared challenges, and the proposal mirrors that pattern. He has stood alongside other European leaders facing Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs, along with his threat to annex Greenland, a sovereign territory of EU member Denmark.
The Collapse of the Trade Deal
Last month, trade talks between Canada and the US broke down, which set off a chain of new tariff measures. The feud between the two North American neighbours has also been fed by Trump’s repeated talk of making Canada a “51st state”, which has added to the tension between the two countries.
Canada’s search for allies is complicated by the feud, even as the EU appears ready to offer a closer bond.
What Associate Membership Would Mean
“Associate membership” of the EU does not currently exist. The idea was floated earlier this year by Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who suggested it for Ukraine to a mixed reaction.
A number of nations are currently working their way toward full EU membership. Among them are the western Balkan states: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Two more countries from Eastern Europe — Georgia and Moldova — are also seeking to join.
| Current Status | Country |
|---|---|
| Full member | Not applicable |
| Seeking full membership | Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia), Georgia, Moldova |
| Proposed associate member | Canada |
Nearly a decade after Ottawa signed a free-trade deal with the bloc, ten of its 27 members still haven’t ratified it. A few capitals would rather expand upon the region’s current defence and trade agreements than craft a fresh kind of arrangement for Canada.
The Security Council Proposal
Von der Leyen laid out the EU’s political and policy priorities for the coming year, and among them was a proposal for a European Security Council. That body would bring together the UK and Ukraine while the continent remains under threat from Russia.
In her sweeping remarks, she touched on a wide range of topics, and at one point she made the claim that “For a long time, we have discussed a leaders’ format focused on the security of our continent, with partners like Canada, Norway, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and others involved,”.
“This is even more urgent now, given the nature and scale of the risks at play. This is why we will set out our ideas to make a European Security Council a reality.”
Other Proposals From the Address
Von der Leyen also addressed domestic concerns. Many European families are worried about the cost of living, she said, and the “dizzying speed of change” of technology and its impacts on jobs and society.
Among the other proposals were plans to invite the world’s largest AI labs for talks on how to support industry efforts to pace the frontier. Another proposal involved cutting red tape for businesses across the EU.
The proposal includes a new emergency tool aimed at helping nations handle large-scale migration movements more effectively. It also puts forward plans to restrict how much social media children can use, such as banning platforms entirely for under-13s. Under the plan, children aged 13 to 15 would only be allowed to open supervised social media accounts, with parental oversight required.
The Key Facts Box
- Proposed status: Associate member of the EU
- First candidate: Canada
- Speaker: Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission
- Date of speech: Wednesday
- Trade deal with Ottawa: Nearly a decade old, ten of 27 EU members yet to ratify
- Children’s social media proposal: Ban platforms for under 13s, supervised accounts for 13 to 15
- Migration tool: New emergency measure for mass movements
A Clear Signal From Europe
The proposal is a clear signal of where Europe stands on Canada’s relationship with the West. Von der Leyen’s framing was deliberate: the arrangement is “not a partnership against anyone else, but for our common strength.”
The EU chief’s backing of a “unique alliance” with Canada, while noting the US feud, shows that Europe sees value in deepening ties with a like-minded partner.
While a closer relationship with the EU holds risk for Canada, it could also strain its ties with the US even more than they already are. The proposal’s danger lies in the possibility that it will push Canada’s relations with the US into greater tension.
The proposal aligns with the EU’s broader effort to strengthen bonds with reliable partners. The union has come under pressure from external powers, and associate membership offers a means of deepening relations short of full membership.
What Comes Next
Carney will speak to the parliament on Thursday. That speech is a statement of intent. Turning it into reality depends on whether Canada and the EU can agree on the details and clear the practical obstacles.
An opening for Canada to join the EU as an associate member has been offered by the EU chief. The question of whether Canada will accept the offer remains unanswered.
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