EU Chief Seeks to Make Canada the Bloc’s First Associate Member

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (L) delivers a speech near Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (2nd R) during her annual State of the Union address at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Sept. 16, 2026. Jean-Christophe Verhaegen/AFP via Getty Images

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that she wanted to open the door for Canada to become the European Union’s first associate member.

The move to strengthen ties comes amid an ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the United States. Washington imposed 50 percent tariffs on certain Canadian exports after trade talks collapsed on Aug. 21, prompting Canada to impose counter-tariffs on U.S. steel, aluminum, dairy, and other goods.

“I said we must urgently reimagine our partnerships,” von der Leyen said in her annual address to the European Parliament, where Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was also present.

Associate membership is a newly proposed partnership status for non-European nations. Von der Leyen did not provide details on how this partnership would work.

Carney has previously said that Canada was not seeking membership in the EU but instead sought a “unique alliance” with the 27-nation bloc.

Von der Leyen said in her speech that the EU aims to deepen its ties with Canada “to the highest level possible,” citing their shared values on various issues including artificial intelligence, climate policy, and geopolitics.

“Above all, dear Mark, Europe and Canada believe in democracy,” she said. “We believe that power does not belong to the strongest, the richest or the loudest – but to all of us. That democracies have the freedom to choose with whom to work.”

The EU chief said they would form a new tech alliance with Canada and integrate their defense industrial bases. The EU also seeks to cooperate with Ottawa on the Arctic, energy, critical minerals, quantum, AI, cybersecurity, and economic security.

Canada this year became the first non-European country to join the EU’s 150-billion-euro ($173-billion) SAFE defense program, giving Canadian companies access to joint procurement as Europe seeks to increase its defense readiness.

Von der Leyen emphasized that EU partnerships with Canada are aimed at building common strength and are “not against anyone else.”

“These partnerships are a strategic choice for Europe. But they also respond to the fracture in the international rules-based system,” she said.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney smiles as he listens to the European Commission president deliver a speech during her annual State of the Union address at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Sept. 16, 2026. Jean-Christophe Verhaegen/AFP via Getty Images

Carney’s office on Wednesday welcomed von der Leyen’s proposal, saying Canada was deepening ties with the EU “to strengthen our sovereignty” and supported a move beyond their existing free trade agreement, known as CETA.

Carney told Bloomberg on Monday that he believes that a “mutually advantageous agreement” is possible between Canada and the United States, but emphasized that any future negotiations must respect national sovereignty and cultural protections while also allowing both sides to maintain independent trade policies.

“We’re ready to sit down and negotiate that and move it forward,” Carney said in an interview.

President Donald Trump has said a deal with Canada could come “fairly soon,” but it would depend on Ottawa’s willingness to address U.S. concerns about agricultural trade.

Jennifer Cowan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.