The European Union wants Canada as its first “associate member” and to “urgently reimagine” their relationship, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during her annual State of the Union address in France on Wednesday.
“Dear Mark, I said we must urgently reimagine our partnerships. So, I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU,” von der Leyen told Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was attending the speech.
“We share one ocean, one set of values, one way of seeing the world. And we will now build our shared future as well – thank you for being here,” she said.
“In short, we want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible,” she added.
Von der Leyen said Canada and the EU have already increased their volume of trade by 75 per cent in less than a decade since the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was signed.
While the trade deal has been provisionally implemented, it isn’t yet fully ratified as some European Union member states still need to ratify the agreement in their individual legislatures.
Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland and Slovenia are the states that haven’t yet ratified CETA.
The European Union and Canada would move from CETA to an Alliance for the Future, von der Leyen said.
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“We will work on intelligent manufacturing. We will create a tech alliance. We will integrate defence industrial bases. We will make the Arctic a flagship joint project. We will work on energy, critical minerals and batteries. On AI, quantum, cyber and economic security,” von der Leyen said.
The talk of Canadian membership comes as the U.S. escalates its trade war against Canada and the U.S. escalates and as U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly asserted the NATO military alliance, of which Canada is a member, is not pulling its weight.
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“This is a partnership not against anyone else, but for our common strength,” von der Leyen said.
However, it is unclear whether the proposal for including Canada as an “associate member,” a category that does not exist so far and would have to be specifically created for Canada, has wide support from EU member states.
A German government spokesperson told Reuters that while they support deeper integration with Canada, the term “associate member” should be “reconsidered.”
“Canada is a particularly close partner for Europe. That is why we are open to discussing new models of partnership,” the spokesperson said.
“But as for the terminology — the label attached to it — we ought to reconsider that,” they added.
Carney has previously said that Canada was “not looking” to gain EU membership but was working to develop a “unique alliance” with Brussels.
–With files from Reuters
While parts may benefit Canada the negative may outweigh the good. The UK left for a reason . Canada cannot let this group control policy and decision making.
Ok but we don’t want that at all
This membership should be discussed in Parliament upon its return next week. Or will Carney pirogue Parliament again and hide like a coward.
As a dual Canadian and European i laugh at this nonsense.
Carney was laughed out of the Bank of England. He advised Trudeau to turn away Germany when they came seeking to buy our LNG in 2023. When running to replace JT he took credit from the work Jim Flaherty did in 2008, who was reveered in Europe and won an international award. Why would any European take him seriously? He even hired an American firm to handle the Investment Summit.
There will be cost to Canada here. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Carney needs to show the details. Of course the Elbows Up Carney followers don’t want to disclose that.
An associate membership would retain Canadian soverignty while allowing deeper integration in digital markets, military, research, etc. Most importantly it would help us diversify away from the US. Of course the Trump loving Poilievre conservatives don’t want that.
@Northern Nelly 912am. When the facts aren’t strong enough, the Poilievre conservatives reach for the “King Carney” title.
That’s some serious showboating
Once again, its hard to get the truth from King Carney.
Is Canada after an associate membership or not ?
Are Canadians aware of any EU policies which differ than Canada has ?
Europe has 2 tiered health care.
Perhaps King Carney will allow some democratic debate before he dictates that EU membership is happening.
As people from UK how good it was joining the EU. They took a hit on their economy into leave the pact. They are thinking long term.
The fact that CETA is over 7 years old and still not ratified in all EU countries is a perfect example of why we shouldnt be joining. I always knew this European PM missed the air of home though…
The Canada is not for sale crowd sure is quite during this anti-democratic liquidation of Canada.
Canada can give up it sovereignty to the EU! No thanks Carney. What are the terms of the relationship and commitment to be an “associate” member.
How about NO!
No thanks