Von der Leyen Floats Canada as EU’s First Potential Associate Member

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published September 16, 2026

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, proposed opening the door for Canada to become the European Union’s first “associate member,” an unprecedented concept aimed at deepening ties in defence, technology, energy, critical minerals and the Arctic.

Von der Leyen made the proposal during her annual State of the European Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, attended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. She said Canada and Europe share common interests and values across democracy, Ukraine, defence, artificial intelligence, climate, raw materials and supply chains.

She said the two sides would seek to move beyond the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, toward an “alliance for the future,” with cooperation covering advanced manufacturing, technology, defence industrial capacity, energy, batteries, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, cybersecurity and economic security.

The proposed “associate member” designation would not amount to full EU membership. No such legal status currently exists in the EU treaties, and von der Leyen did not spell out what rights or obligations it would carry. Any move toward establishing such an arrangement would ultimately depend on EU member states rather than the European Commission president alone.

Carney had said earlier this week that Canada was seeking a “unique alliance” with the EU rather than full membership. Following his meeting with von der Leyen on Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Office said he welcomed a move beyond CETA toward a “far stronger, more ambitious alliance,” covering critical minerals, defence industrial capacity, AI, energy security and financial services. The Canadian statement did not explicitly endorse the term “associate member.”

The proposal comes as Ottawa seeks to diversify its economic and security partnerships and reduce its dependence on the United States, while the EU looks to expand cooperation with trusted partners in defence, energy, technology and supply chains. Carney has pledged to double Canada’s non-U.S. trade over the next decade.