Headlines across Europe indicate a lot of confusion right now. The EU constitution rules that possibility out as Canada is geographically outside Europe. But in a speech on Thursday to the European Parliament, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said: "Canada and Europe should secure our strategic autonomy through deep cooperation in the full range of strategic capabilities." Mark Carney was responding – extremely warmly – to an invitation by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for Canada to become the EU's first associate member.
The EU and Canada already have a far-reaching trade deal (Ceta) in place but Carney insisted additional cooperation on energy and economic security, on critical and raw materials, education, tech and AI innovation, and defence would help safeguard all countries involved. Canada and the EU feel increasingly squeezed by the superpowers USA on the one side and China on the other – and by tech giants, too, that seem to operate supranationally. The idea of associate EU membership, Carney emphasised, would not be to form a third superpower or to create a bloc against anyone else.
"We do not pursue zero sum deals," he said. Instead he suggested like-minded nations should club together to create a new form of multilateral global governance in an increasingly turbulent world where – in the minds of some others - might is right. Only by countries joining forces and shunning isolationism, Carney suggested, could they close key capability gaps, build strength and ensure national sovereignty.
This last may have been a nod to upcoming elections across Europe and the continent's increasingly powerful nationalist politicians. Their slogans – whether "Italy First" or "France for the French" or "Make Poland Great Again" – echo Donald Trump's call to Make America Great Again. Carney's words were hopeful and warm; the applause in the European Parliament rapturous and apparently heartfelt.
What could EU associate member status mean for Canada? Canada welcomes EU proposal to become 'associate member' Not so across the Atlantic. On Wednesday, Donald Trump dismissed the EU associate membership proposal out of hand, threatened to impose "very heavy tariffs" if the agreement came to fruition and warned he may view it as a "hostile act".
But the US president is the unintentional matchmaker for this EU-Canada love-in. Traditionally, America is trade partner and defence ally number one for Canada and the EU. But Ottawa is currently embroiled in what it calls an escalating trade "war" with the White House.
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