EU President Ursula von der Leyen proposes Canada as first associate member

STRASBOURG, France (AP) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday proposed making Canada the European Union's first associate member, a significant overture amid U.S. President Donald Trump's threats that are driving Ottawa closer to Europe. Speaking in Charlotte, North Carolina, Trump suggested that allowing Canada to become an associate EU member could be a "hostile act" and threatened to respond to the proposed move by imposing more tariffs on the bloc. Trump conditioned his threat on the "intention" of European leaders, stating, "If it's a good intention, that's fine. If it's a bad intention, we'll put very heavy tariffs on Europe." He also suggested the U.S. could cut off trade with Europe in certain areas. Trump described the prospect of Canada joining the EU as "laughable" and labeled Canada a "terrible trade partner." The relationship between Canada and the U.S. has soured due to Trump's tariffs and his repeated suggestions of making Canada the 51st state. Canada is seeking to reduce its dependence on the United States, which accounts for approximately 70% of its exports, and Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for a "unique alliance" with the EU. In her annual State of the European Union address, von der Leyen stated that Canada and the EU would build on their existing free trade agreement, known as CETA, with a broader "Alliance for the Future" aimed at creating "a common prosperity and economic security space." She emphasized that this closer relationship is based not only on trade but also on shared democratic values, stating, "Above all, dear Mark, Europe and Canada believe in democracy," addressing Carney, who received a standing ovation at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. A Canadian official familiar with the discussions informed The Associated Press last week that Ottawa was exploring ties with the EU that could stop short of full membership. The official indicated that Canada would seek an arrangement allowing its citizens to live and work in Europe without visas as part of a broader strategic partnership. Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's ambassador-designate to the EU, stated that Ottawa had discussed associate membership with European officials prior to von der Leyen's speech and was aware that it was a possibility. He noted that Canada had engaged with the EU regarding an "Alliance for the Future," while European officials had raised the topic of associate membership. Wilkinson clarified that Canada is not pursuing full EU membership due to the requirement of surrendering some sovereignty. Instead, Ottawa aims to get as close as possible to the bloc while strengthening Canadian sovereignty. Carney's office welcomed von der Leyen's proposal, stating that Canada is deepening ties with the EU "to strengthen our sovereignty" and supports moving beyond CETA. Von der Leyen indicated that the expanded partnership would encompass advanced manufacturing, technology, defense production, the Arctic, energy, critical minerals, batteries, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and economic security. She remarked, "This is a partnership not against anyone else, but for our common strength," and expressed the desire to elevate the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible. As Canada joining the EU as an associate member would be unprecedented, there is no established framework for how that would function or what it would entail. It remains unclear who would need to approve such membership and how long the process could take. Wilkinson mentioned that Ottawa and Brussels are focusing initially on the substance of the relationship rather than the terminology. He stated, "Before you actually get to the point where you decide what you're going to call something, you should actually know the shape." The specifics are expected to become clearer at the Canada-EU summit in October, where both sides anticipate making an announcement and possibly settling on a description. Currently, all steps toward EU membership must be approved unanimously by the 27 member countries. The concept of associate membership has been previously considered for Ukraine and post-Brexit Britain, but no concrete actions have been taken. Tobias Cremer, a German member of the European Parliament, emphasized the need for Canada and the EU to move beyond rhetoric and establish a more substantive relationship. He stated, "Now is the time to stop sending each other love letters and put meat on the bone," advocating for a more ambitious arrangement than a mere trade or defense agreement, aiming for a holistic strategic alliance. Existing frameworks such as CETA could serve as a foundation, but should be utilized more fully and expanded. Cremer noted that the case for closer ties is increasingly driven by geopolitical factors as well as economic considerations. He suggested that the ultimate goal should be larger than a bilateral arrangement, potentially positioning the EU as a convener of middle powers, an idea Carney has also proposed. This year, Canada became the first non-European country to join the EU's 150-billion-euro ($173-billion) SAFE defense program, allowing Canadian companies access to joint procurement as Europe seeks to enhance its defense readiness. Iratxe García Pérez, president of the Socialists & Democrats group in the European Parliament, commended Carney for demonstrating "great courage confronting Donald Trump" and emphasized the need for allies to defend "sovereignty, solidarity and international law." Carney stated on Tuesday that economic integration, once perceived as primarily beneficial, is increasingly being "used as a weapon by certain countries." Discussions are expected to intensify at the Canada-EU summit in late October. Canada has retaliated against U.S. tariffs and rejected trade terms that Carney argues would undermine its sovereignty. The EU has pursued a different approach with Washington, reaching a trade agreement that established a 15% U.S. tariff ceiling on the majority of EU exports while Europe eliminated tariffs on U.S. industrial goods. This contrast has influenced Carney's advocacy for closer ties with Europe. In a notable speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, he urged middle powers to collaborate to enhance their leverage amid great-power rivalry, stating, "When we only negotiate bilaterally with a hegemon, we negotiate from weakness. We accept what is offered." Associated Press writers Sam McNeil in Brussels and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report.