European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested the European Union may open its doors for Canada to join as an “associate member.”
Addressing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, von der Leyen stated, “I said we must urgently reimagine our partnerships. So, I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU. We share one ocean, one set of values, one way of seeing the world. And we will now build our shared future as well – thank you for being here.”
She also stated that Carney’s presence at the event stood as a “symbol of the enduring friendship between our people. Our cultural, historical and personal links run deep within the fabric of our societies.”
Von der Leyen went on to declare that the European Union will create an Alliance for the Future alongside Canada for “common prosperity and economic security space.
“We will work on intelligent manufacturing. We will create a tech alliance. We will integrate defence industrial bases. We will make the Arctic a flagship joint project. We will work on energy, critical minerals and batteries. On AI, quantum, cyber and economic security,” she explained, declaring that the EU seeks to “bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible.”
The offer comes as Canada seeks to move away from its trade relations with the United States amid ongoing tariff battles. Last month, President Trump announced his plan to implement stronger tariffs on some Canadian products beginning in January 2027.
