EU chief backs plan for Canada to become 'associate member'

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. EU chief backs plan for Canada to become 'associate member'Image source, EPAImage caption, Mark Carney (left) walks alongside European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (centre) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (right)ByAmy Walker and Nick Beake, Europe correspondentPublished16 September 2026Updated 11 minutes agoThe president of the European Commission has backed proposals for Canada to become the EU's first "associate member". Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament on Wednesday she wanted to work on "opening the door" for Canada, which would involve closer ties on various key sectors. The country currently faces tense relations with the US, compounded by an intensifying dispute over trade.

Insisting it would not be a "partnership against anyone else", Von der Leyen did not mention Donald Trump by name. Nevertheless the US president threatened to cut trade with the European Union in response to the proposal. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney last week spoke of seeking a "unique alliance" with the EU.

The Details

Carney was in attendance at the annual key note speech in Strasbourg, and is due to address the parliament on Thursday. Trade talks between Canada and the US collapsed last month, sparking a series of new tariff measures. Trump's repeated talk of making Canada a "51st state" has also helped to fuel the feud between the North American neighbours.

Figure caption, 'Maybe they'll shoot you' - Carney recalls Trump's gift of White House keyCarney's new love-in with EU has everything to do with Trump Published13 hours agoVon der Leyen told the EU's State of the Union address that the bloc and Canada "see the world with the same eyes", including on topics ranging from AI, to climate change and geopolitics. "And we have stood together: on Ukraine, on defence, on raw materials and on supply chains. Europe and Canada believe in democracy.

"She added: "Partnerships are a strategic choice for Europe. But they also respond to the fracture in the international rules-based system". She did not give specific details on how any Canadian membership would work, but listed manufacturing, technology, artificial intelligence (AI), defence, energy, critical minerals and economic security as key areas for cooperation.

What Experts Say

When asked about the plan, Trump called it "laughable". "If they do that, if I think it's at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe, on many things. "He added: "If it's a good intention, that's fine.

If it's a bad intention, we'll put very heavy tariffs on Europe, which is a possibility. "Both von der Leyen and other European leaders have found a reliable ally in Carney as they deal with similar problems. In particular, they have faced Trump's aggressive use of tariffs and his threat to annex Greenland which is a sovereign territory of EU member Denmark.

But "associate membership" of the EU does not currently exist and the process, if agreed, could take years.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.