Strasbourg: The European Union has opened the door to a new relationship with Canada that could make Canada the bloc's first associate member, as both sides seek deeper cooperation on trade, defence, technology, energy and strategic resources.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the proposal on Wednesday during her State of the European Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in attendance.
Von der Leyen said she wanted to work with Carney on opening the door for Canada to become the EU's first associate member. She presented the proposal as part of Europe's efforts to build stronger partnerships in a changing international environment.
She said the EU and Canada shared common interests in areas including artificial intelligence, climate change, the Arctic and geopolitics. She also pointed to their cooperation on Ukraine, defence, raw materials and supply chains.
The proposal would go beyond the existing economic relationship between Canada and the EU. Von der Leyen said the two sides should work together on advanced manufacturing, technology, defence industries, critical minerals and energy. She also identified the Arctic as a potential area for closer joint cooperation.
However, Canada has not become an associate member of the EU, and the two sides have not agreed on what such a status would mean.
Associate membership is not currently defined in the EU treaties. The legal and institutional arrangements for any new relationship would therefore require further discussions within the European Union and with Canada.
There is also an important difference in the language used by Brussels and Ottawa.
Carney has said Canada is seeking a "unique security and economic alliance" with the European Union rather than full EU membership. In remarks on Tuesday, he said Canada was looking to strengthen its partnerships abroad while increasing its strategic autonomy.
Carney is due to address the European Parliament on Thursday. His speech could provide greater clarity on Canada's position on the proposal and on the form of closer cooperation Ottawa wants with Europe.
The announcement builds on cooperation that has already expanded between Canada and the EU.
Canada and the EU have a free trade agreement known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA. Most of the agreement has been provisionally applied since September 21, 2017, although it has not yet been fully ratified by all EU member states.
Their relationship has also developed in security and defence. Canada became the first non European country to participate in the EU's Security Action for Europe defence procurement programme, known as SAFE.
An agreement signed on February 14, 2026 and in force since August 1 allows Canadian companies and products to participate in procurement supported by the EU programme. Canada and the EU have also been expanding cooperation on wider security and defence issues.
The closer relationship comes at a time of significant change in Canada's ties with the United States.
Relations between Ottawa and Washington have become more difficult following the breakdown of trade talks and the introduction of a series of tariff measures. Carney has responded by seeking stronger economic and strategic links with other partners while making clear that Canada will continue to maintain close ties with the United States.
In a speech on Tuesday, Carney said Canada would begin discussions with the EU next month on building a unique security and economic alliance. He identified artificial intelligence, payments, space, critical minerals and clean energy as areas where stronger partnerships could help Canada increase its strategic autonomy.
The European side also sees Canada as an important partner because of its natural resources, technology, energy sector and Arctic position.
The two sides are expected to continue discussions ahead of the next EU Canada Summit, scheduled to take place in Montreal on October 29 and 30.
The precise form of any future associate relationship remains unclear. It is not yet known what rights or obligations Canada would have, whether the arrangement would involve greater access to EU institutions or programmes, or what level of economic and regulatory integration would be involved.
It is also too early to describe the proposal as an agreement between Canada and all 27 EU member states. Von der Leyen's announcement represents a significant political proposal, but further discussions and decisions would be required before any new institutional arrangement could be established.
For now, the key development is that the European Commission has publicly signalled a willingness to explore a new level of partnership with Canada. The next steps will include Carney's address to the European Parliament on Thursday and further discussions leading up to the EU Canada Summit in Montreal next month.