In her State of the Union speech in Strasbourg on Wednesday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke invited Canada becomes the first “associated member” of the European Union (EU).
Von der Leyen suggested modernizing the existing system Comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA) into an “Alliance for the Future” that would create “a common space for prosperity and economic security.” She highlighted that bilateral trade in goods under CETA has grown by 75 percent since its provisional application in 2017. The agreement eliminates most tariffs on goods and services between Canada and the EU, but has not been ratified by ten EU member states. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney traveled to Strasbourg, partly to push for the remaining ratifications.
In addition, Von der Leyen acknowledged the close relations between the EU and Canada and praised their cooperation in the areas of Ukraine, raw materials and supply chains. She listed future priorities including technology, Arctic projects, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and the integration of defense industrial bases. These areas go beyond traditional trade, and in some areas they go beyond the integration of the EU’s own internal market and reflect the EU’s geopolitical framework focus on deepening strategic global partnerships to meet economic and security needs.
The proposed “associate membership” is a new concept that does not exist in the EU treaties. It is different from that formal accession processThis includes an application for membership and the granting of candidate status, lengthy negotiations and the fulfillment of criteria and reforms. Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union states that “any European state” that respects the values of the EU may apply for membership in the union, barring Canada, a non-European country, from full membership unless the treaty is amended.
The EU already has special relations with non-EU members, including the European Economic Areacollective framework conditions like that Eastern Partnership, and policy-specific bilateral relations Partnerships with many other countries. What “associated membership” would actually mean has not yet been explained in more detail.
The President’s Invitation follows the recent defense Agreements and improvements to free trade relations between Canada and the EU, as well as Carney’s statements at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he outlined a “middle power” strategy to deepen alliances among democratic nations to strengthen collective resilience in great power competition.
Von der Leyen’s announcement comes in the way deteriorating trade relations between Canada and its largest trading partner, the USA. US President Donald Trump has imposed multiple rounds of tariffs on Canadian goods, prompting Canadian retaliation and accelerating closer economic and strategic ties with the EU.
