EU and Canada: a love story starting off on the wrong foot.
As we have been reporting here on TGP, Liberal Canadian PM Mark Carney, after burning bridges with his largest trade partner, which purchased 75% of its goods, went out in a frantic mission to approach the European Union as an alternative.
Yesterday (15), this move by Carney was crowned by a seemingly wonderful proposition by European Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen: an ‘audacious’ offer to make Canada the EU’s first ‘associate member’.
Dear @MarkJCarney we want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible.
I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to being the first associate member of the EU.
And create a common prosperity and economic security space. pic.twitter.com/GqIjGBz6aY
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 16, 2026
The EU has delivered greater stability across the continent, greater mobility for its citizens, and a single market that gives Europe global economic weight.
An honour to hear President von der Leyen address the European Parliament today as we build a deeper partnership for the… pic.twitter.com/SzQDWvxBU9
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) September 16, 2026
The problem is that von der Leyen’s inability and overreach have turned this rapprochement into a ‘major diplomatic headache’.
Politico reported:
“The idea was not run past European capitals in advance and has caused considerable confusion, four diplomats told POLITICO. Ottawa also appears to be distancing itself from the label — hours before Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to give his own speech to the European Parliament.
Von der Leyen dropped the bombshell proposal during her State of the Union address Wednesday, directly addressing Carney from the floor of the Parliament.
‘I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU’, she said, drawing thunderous applause from MEPs and an embrace from Carney.”
Brussels hit with furious backlash after top Eurocrat Ursula von der Leyen unveils unprecedented plan for Canada to become ‘associate member’ of the bloc without asking EU capitals first, with diplomats branding her ‘bombastic’ https://t.co/TH7x6Kx1x7
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) September 16, 2026
There is also the fact that no one knows what an associate membership means.
Even Canada is distancing itself from the ‘position’.
“That leaves von der Leyen having publicly offered up a new status that the EU hasn’t agreed to create or settled on a definition for — and which Canada itself doesn’t appear exactly eager to embrace.”
What a fiasco!
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