Canada Could Become the EU's First Associate Member — Reuters

The European Union is considering granting Canada a new, unprecedented status as an associate member of the bloc. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced this proposal during a speech at the European Parliament.

According to her, against the backdrop of global instability, Europe needs new forms of partnership. von der Leyen expressed her readiness to work toward “opening the door” for Canada as the EU’s first associate member.

She emphasized that the EU and Canada share common values and cooperate on issues such as support for Ukraine, democracy, defense, raw materials, and supply chains. Among the potential areas for deeper cooperation, she also mentioned technology, the defense-industrial sector, and Arctic development.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was present in the chamber during the speech and received a standing ovation from MEPs. However, the proposal requires the consent of all EU member states, and the specific legal framework for such status has not yet been defined.

Additional challenges may arise in the trade sector. In particular, Canada continues to protect its telecommunications and dairy sectors.

Plans are in place to discuss the new partnership framework in greater detail during the Canada–EU summit in Montreal in late October.

Source: Reuters

In Canada, the government plans to attract private investment through long-term concessions for the management of the country’s four largest airports—in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver. 

Canada is discussing the possibility of joining a 90 billion euro European Union loan package to support Ukraine.