Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has welcomed the European Union’s proposal to develop a new form of “associate membership” for Canada, signalling a potentially significant expansion of relations between Ottawa and the 27 member bloc.
Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday, Carney said Canada and Europe could build a deeper partnership based on shared interests, democratic values and economic cooperation. His remarks came a day after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed that Canada become the EU’s first associate member.
The proposal is unprecedented because “associate membership” is not currently an established legal category under EU treaties. The exact rights and responsibilities that such a status would provide have yet to be determined, meaning any agreement would require further negotiations among Canada and EU member states.
Von der Leyen presented the idea as part of a broader effort to strengthen partnerships with countries that share European interests. She pointed to cooperation between Canada and Europe in areas including artificial intelligence, climate policy, defence, critical minerals, supply chains and Arctic affairs.
Carney has previously described Canada's objective as a “unique alliance” with the EU rather than full membership of the bloc. His government has been seeking to expand Canada's international economic and strategic relationships while maintaining the country's sovereignty and independent decision-making.
The developing relationship also comes amid heightened trade tensions between Canada and the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised the possibility of closer Canada-EU ties and warned that Washington could impose additional tariffs on European goods if it regarded the arrangement as hostile to the United States.
Carney, however, stressed that Canada's international partnerships would be determined by Canada itself. During his European Parliament appearance, he argued that stronger cooperation with Europe could make Canada a more effective partner internationally and help protect its ability to pursue its own interests.
For the EU, closer relations with Canada could provide opportunities for greater cooperation on energy, natural resources, defence production, technology and economic security. Canada is also an important source of critical minerals and has substantial Arctic interests, areas that have become increasingly important to European policymakers.
The two sides already have an established economic relationship through the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA. The proposed associate-member framework would therefore represent an attempt to move cooperation beyond conventional trade relations and into a wider strategic partnership.
Still, major questions remain. EU governments would need to determine what associate membership actually means, how it would operate alongside existing EU treaties and whether other non-EU countries could seek similar arrangements. European diplomats have also raised questions about the feasibility and legal structure of creating such a status.
For now, the proposal remains at the political and diplomatic stage. But Carney's appearance before European lawmakers demonstrates that Canada and the EU are considering a substantially closer relationship at a time when both sides are reassessing their economic, security and geopolitical partnerships.