Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this week that Canada was seeking a ‘unique alliance’ with the European Union.
Published On 16 Sep 2026
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed that Canada become the European Union’s first “associate member”, marking a significant overture as both sides look to diversify away from a more adversarial United States under President Donald Trump.
Von der Leyen’s proposal came after Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier this week indicated Canada was pursuing a “unique alliance” with the EU, falling short of full membership.
Speaking before the European Parliament in Strasbourg, von der Leyen warned that democracies are confronting a “fracture in the international rules‑based system” and argued that Brussels and Ottawa must draw closer together.
“I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU,” she told Carney, who was present at her annual State of the European Union address.
Carney, the first foreign head of government to attend the keynote speech, is scheduled to address the European Parliament on Thursday ahead of an EU‑Canada summit in Montreal next month.
Von der Leyen emphasized a shift from a purely trade‑based relationship to a broader “alliance for the future,” seeking to elevate the partnership with Canada to the highest possible level.
She outlined joint initiatives spanning manufacturing, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and energy sectors.
“This is a partnership not against anyone else, but for our common strength,” she added.
Current EU treaties do not provide for associate membership. The concept was first floated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier this year in the context of Ukraine.
Under the proposed framework— which faced a lukewarm response in Kyiv as it pursues full EU membership— associate members would be allowed to attend bloc summits and hold a representative on the European Commission.
They would also have access to portions of the EU budget but without full voting rights.
Both Brussels and Ottawa already cooperate closely, facing pressure from U.S. tariffs and competition from China.
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has lifted trade in goods and services by more than 80 % since 2016.
In addition, Canada this year became the first non‑EU country to join a flagship EU defence loan programme.
“Power belongs not to the strongest, the richest or the loudest, but to all of us. Democracies have the freedom to choose with whom to work,” von der Leyen remarked. “We are joining forces voluntarily.”
