Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday endorsed a proposal for Canada to become the European Union’s first associate member, while stressing that a closer partnership would not be intended to form a new bloc challenging the world’s major powers.
Carney’s comments followed President Donald Trump’s warning that the proposed arrangement could amount to a “hostile act.” Trump threatened to impose heavy tariffs on Europe if he decided its intentions were unfriendly and dismissed the idea as “laughable.”
“We welcome this ambition,” Carney told the European Parliament, referring to the proposal unveiled Wednesday by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Carney outlined a vision of much closer Canada-EU cooperation in trade, defense, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, space, research and financial services. The aim, he said, would be to reduce both sides’ exposure to economic and geopolitical pressure.
“I am not proposing a third bloc in order to become a great-power rival — only with better manners,” Carney said. “We do not seek power to dominate others.”
Instead, Carney said, Canada wants to strengthen its resilience so that no country can control its markets, weaken its sovereignty or dictate its national choices.
For generations, Canada built its economy around close integration with the United States.
But Trump’s tariffs, demands for economic concessions and repeated suggestions that Canada should become the 51st state are prompting Ottawa to reduce its dependence on Washington. Canada is now seeking closer economic, security and political ties with Europe.
Europe offers Canada another path
Von der Leyen proposed making Canada the EU’s first associate member. Such a status does not currently exist under the bloc’s treaties and would need to be established.
She said Europe wanted to elevate its relationship with Canada to “the highest level possible.”
Carney, seated in the front row of the European Parliament chamber, nodded before standing to embrace von der Leyen as lawmakers rose in a standing ovation for the proposal.
Europe, von der Leyen indicated, is offering Canada a different path.
She said Canada and the EU should move beyond their existing free trade agreement and establish an “Alliance for the Future” built around a “common prosperity and economic security space.”
Carney will welcome EU leaders to Montreal for a Canada-EU summit on Oct. 29-30. The proposed new relationship is expected to be a central topic of discussion.
About 70% of Canada’s exports go to the United States, leaving the country particularly vulnerable to Trump’s tariffs. Ottawa has responded with retaliatory measures and rejected demands that Carney says would threaten Canadian sovereignty.
Europe chose a different approach, setting aside retaliation and accepting tariffs of up to 15% on most exports from the EU to the United States.
Carney has rallied ‘middle powers’
Carney has repeatedly called on middle powers to resist economic coercion. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, he warned that countries negotiating individually with a dominant power “negotiate from weakness. We accept what is offered.”
Trump responded by rebuking him the following day.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s ambassador-designate to the EU, said Wednesday that Ottawa was not pursuing full EU membership because doing so would require Canada to give up some sovereignty.
Instead, Canada wants “to get as close as we possibly can” to Europe while preserving and strengthening its independence.
Exactly what associate membership would mean remains to be negotiated.
Canada has already taken a major step toward European integration.
This year it became the first non-European country to join the EU’s $173-billion SAFE defense procurement program, giving Canadian companies access to joint procurement as Europe increases defense spending.
The two sides have also discussed closer cooperation on energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and digital trade.
“The policies and rhetoric of the Trump administration are clearly pushing both Canada and the EU to imagine a world without strong US leadership and to act accordingly,” said Daniel Béland, a political-science professor at McGill University in Montreal.
Nelson Wiseman, a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, said Carney’s handling of Trump has heightened European interest in the Canadian leader.
“Carney’s shrewdness in dealing with Trump has captured Europe’s attention,” Wiseman said.
Washington will be watching
Wiseman said Europeans have long regarded Canada as a country that understands the United States particularly well because of their deep economic and political ties.
Carney’s willingness to resist Trump rather than quickly accept Washington’s demands has reinforced that perception, he said.
Béland said Carney may avoid naming Trump on Thursday while leaving little doubt about the target of his broader argument.
“He knows that, beyond Europe, the world will be watching, including the White House,” Béland said.
