EU chief von der Leyen says she wants Canada to become the bloc's first associate member
- Posted on September 16, 2026
- By Le Monde
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a groundbreaking expansion of EU relations by inviting Canada to become the bloc's inaugural associate member state. During her state of the union address, von der Leyen announced plans to collaborate with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to establish this unprecedented partnership framework. This move signals the EU's strategic interest in deepening ties with North America and creating a new membership category that could reshape European institutional structure.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
EU chief von der Leyen says she wants Canada to become the bloc's first associate member
During her annual state of the union address, Ursula von der Leyen told Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that they would work together to 'open the door for Canada being the first associate member of the EU.'
