# Could Canada become the EU’s first associate member? What we know > Source: > Published: 2026-09-16 09:52:02+00:00 # 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.