From BBC: The president of the European Commission has backed proposals for Canada to become the EU’s first “associate member”.
Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament on Wednesday she wanted to work on “opening the door” for Canada, which would involve closer ties on various key sectors.
The country currently faces tense relations with the US, compounded by an intensifying dispute over trade.
Insisting it would not be a “partnership against anyone else”, Von der Leyen did not mention Donald Trump by name. Nevertheless the US president threatened to cut trade with the European Union in response to the proposal.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney last week spoke of seeking a “unique alliance” with the EU.
Von der Leyen told the EU’s State of the Union address that the bloc and Canada “see the world with the same eyes”, including on topics ranging from AI, to climate change and geopolitics.
“And we have stood together: on Ukraine, on defence, on raw materials and on supply chains. But above all… Europe and Canada believe in democracy.”
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