Canada could become European Union’s first associate member under proposal

CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: A proposal has emerged to give a new direction to Canada’s relations with the European Union. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed working towards making Canada the European Union’s first “associate member”. The announcement was made on 16 September during her annual State of the Union address in Strasbourg, in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Under the proposal, Canada and the European Union plan to expand cooperation beyond trade into technology, defence, energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and the Arctic region. The two sides are already linked through the CETA trade agreement.

However, “associate member” status is not yet a formal arrangement under European Union treaties. Therefore, the shape of the proposal, its rights and the decision-making process remain unclear. Approval from European Union member states will be necessary to implement it.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has reacted to the proposal by warning of heavy tariffs on the European Union. Amid trade tensions between Canada and the United States, the development has become a subject of international discussion.

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