Canada seeks unique alliance with Europe, leaving US aside:Country to become EU’s first associate member; will strengthen security with UK, Ukraine

Amid rising tensions with the United States, Canada is preparing to move closer to Europe. The European Union (EU) is working to make Canada its first ‘associate member’. As an associate member, Canada would not join the European Union’s 27 member states and would not have voting rights, but its cooperation with the EU would increase in areas such as defence, AI, technology, energy, critical minerals and trade. Canada could also join a new security council with countries outside the EU, such as the UK and Ukraine, to strengthen security in Europe. Canada’s prime minister had expressed a desire to join the European Union
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that the European Union wanted to open its doors to Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was also present. Carney had expressed a desire last week to form a ‘unique alliance’ with the EU. Von der Leyen said that Canada and Europe view the world in the same way and believe in democracy. The European Union would need to create a new arrangement for Canada The European Union’s existing treaties contain no provision for ‘associate member’ status. This means a new arrangement may have to be created to grant Canada such a status. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed such an arrangement for Ukraine this year. However, Ukraine did not give the idea much support because it wants full membership of the European Union. Under the proposal, Ukraine could have been allowed to attend European Union meetings and send a representative to the European Commission. It would also have benefited from some parts of the European Union’s budget, but would not have had voting rights like full member states. Trade between the European Union and Canada has increased The European Union and Canada are already co-operating in several areas amid US tariffs and growing competition from China. They have a free trade agreement called CETA. Under the agreement, almost all import duties between the two sides have been removed. Trade in goods and services between the European Union and Canada has increased by more than 80% since 2016. This year, Canada also became the first non-EU country to join a major EU defence lending programme. Von der Leyen said power should not belong only to the most powerful, richest or loudest countries. Democratic countries should have the freedom to decide whom they want to work with. She said, “That is why we are coming together voluntarily.” ​