Canada seeks ‘associate member’ status with the EU

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking ‘associate’ membership in the EU, as Ottawa–Washington ties have sunk back to their lowest level. He will address the European Parliament next week.

“Carney is considering closer ties with the European Union, including the possibility of membership as an ‘associate member of the bloc,'” the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

The status does not currently exist, but the EU may be open to creating special membership arrangements, the paper said, citing unidentified EU and Canadian officials. The European Commission did not respond to a request for comment.

The report comes ahead of a Carney speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday, where he is expected to present his vision for Canada–EU ties in a challenging geopolitical environment.

Ottawa is engaged in a ‘historic’ trade war with the United States, with high tariffs in force and no signs of de-escalation.

According to the report, the EU and Canada are in talks on ways to ease trade rules for Canadian goods, services and workers between the two sides, particularly in areas such as energy, artificial intelligence, defense and critical minerals.

It also says the two are discussing major joint projects, including undersea cables, data centers, cloud infrastructure and satellite networks. Canada also wants to expand energy exports to Europe, the WSJ said.

However, securing any form of ‘associate member’ status could be difficult. The EU has strict membership rules and a lengthy process for making changes to its existing agreements.

Still, the impact of the Trump presidency, marked by tariffs and threats on both sides of the Atlantic, could encourage a more flexible approach.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier this year outlined his vision for an ‘associate member’ status, initially intended for Ukraine but potentially applicable to Canada. The model would deepen ties with the EU without requiring full membership.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit the French territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon next week, about 20 km off Canada’s Atlantic coast, in a show of support for their close ties amid tensions with US President Donald Trump, Paris said on Sunday.

Trump posted an image on his Truth Social account on Monday showing a map of North America with the American flag over several French overseas territories, including Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, as well as Guadeloupe and Martinique. The map also included Iceland, Greenland, Mexico, Canada, most of Central America and the Caribbean.

The visit will highlight the shared values of France and Canada, including ‘freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for the sovereignty of nations,’ the Élysée Palace said.

“In a world marked by the return of power politics, geopolitical tensions and new forms of dependence, France and Canada share a common ambition” to strengthen their ability to act independently, it added.

The visit will be the first by a Canadian prime minister to the archipelago, the French presidency said. The last French president to visit was François Hollande in 2014.