Canada expects to seal a deal in June to become the EU’s first ‘associate member’ - ‘everything short of full EU membership’

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday he expects to conclude negotiations with the European Union in June to make Canada the bloc’s first “associate member,” as both sides forge an unprecedented alliance to protect their sovereignty in a changing world order.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and threats against traditional allies have accelerated efforts by Canada and Europe to reduce their dependence on Washington and strengthen their economic and security ties.

“What brings us together goes far beyond geography. We see the world through the same eyes,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “These headwinds won’t stop blowing. This change is permanent.”

Carney said the alliance would help Canada and Europe withstand economic pressure and make their own decisions rather than be dictated to by more powerful countries.

Trump has suggested Canada’s proposed EU arrangement could be a “hostile act” and threatened tariffs on Europe if he considered it unfriendly.

Asked whether Trump could eventually be invited to join the alliance, Carney did not directly answer but insisted it was not aimed against any country.

“It is about reinforcing sovereignty. Why? So we can live our lives as we choose, our people can live their lives as they choose and have the full freedoms that people enjoy in the European Union and in Canada,” Carney said.

Carney, von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa launched the “Alliance for the Future” at the end of a two-day summit in Montreal, announcing progress on digital trade, European investment in Canadian critical minerals and artificial intelligence.

“Today we move toward associate membership for Canada, and we launch a new alliance for the future,” Carney said.

But the joint declaration made no mention of associate membership, despite both Carney and von der Leyen championing the designation. Instead, the leaders agreed to define an “ever-closer association” by their next summit in 2027.

Carney said Canadian Cabinet ministers and European commissioners would meet in March before he attends European Council meetings in June, where he intends to conclude negotiations on the proposed relationship. Costa confirmed the invitation and said more details would be announced then.

Von der Leyen said Friday there was broad support for bringing Canada closer to the EU, despite disagreement over what to call the relationship.

“On one thing I’m absolutely sure, having spoken about it in the last weeks, is the broad support of having Canada much, much closer to the European Union,” she said.