Could Canada become the EU’s first associate member? What we know

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed opening the door for Canada to become the European Union's first associate member.
• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Canada is seeking a unique alliance with the EU rather than full membership, following a breakdown in Canada-US trade relations.
• Von der Leyen invited Carney to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg to discuss deepening ties across technology, defence, energy and the Arctic.
• The proposed partnership aims to integrate defence industrial bases and establish a tech alliance without seeking to antagonise US President Donald Trump.
• In her annual address, von der Leyen also backed calls for a pause in frontier AI development to address growing national security risks.

IN FULL

European Union opens door for Canada to become its first associate member