Canada’s Carney welcomes EU’s associated membership proposal

According to Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed support for a proposal that would make Canada the first associate member of the European Union. During an address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Carney framed the potential alliance as a way to bolster democratic values and increase collective resilience against external influence. He emphasized that the partnership is intended to protect market openness and sovereignty rather than to serve as an antagonistic power bloc.

Carney proposed increasing bilateral cooperation across several strategic sectors, including defense, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, space, and energy security. He also suggested initiatives to foster greater integration between the two regions, such as creating seamless digital trade and expanding opportunities for students and young professionals to work and study across the Atlantic.

The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who described the potential membership as “laughable” and threatened to impose significant tariffs on the EU if he views the move as hostile. In response, an European Commission spokesperson clarified that the initiative is intended to build shared strength rather than target any third party, noting that the plan still requires formal approval from EU member states.

Source: Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/17/canadas-carney-welcomes-eus-associated-membership-proposal?traffic_source=rss