EU Opens Door For Canada To Grow to be Its First Affiliate Member, Von Der Leyen Says

BRUSSELS, Sept 16 (Reuters) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated the European Union is opening the door for Canada to change into its first “affiliate member”, a standing that isn’t set out within the bloc’s treaties.

Von der Leyen’s announcement is a major shift in EU coverage. The bloc has traditionally resisted versatile classes and EU members have been lukewarm in reacting to Germany’s proposal in May of affiliate membership for Ukraine as a stepping stone to full accession.

“Partnerships are a strategic alternative for Europe. But additionally they reply to the fracture within the overseas rules-based system,” von der Leyen stated in her annual State of the European Union tackle to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

“We see the global community with the identical eyes: from AI to local weather change, from the Arctic to geopolitics. And we’ve stood collectively: on Ukraine, on defence, on uncooked supplies and on provide chains. But above all…Europe and Canada consider in democracy.”

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney stated earlier this week Canada was in search of a “distinctive alliance” with the EU however not membership. Von der Leyen invited Carney to hitch her in Strasbourg and he’ll make his personal tackle on Thursday.

Carney’s European journey follows a historic breakdown in Canada-U.S. relations after commerce talks collapsed final month, sparking a sequence of tit-for-tat tariff measures.

“I stated we should urgently reimagine our partnerships. So, I want to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the primary affiliate member of the EU,” von der Leyen stated.

She added the EU and Canada will work collectively on throughout sectors from manufacturing to AI, crucial minerals and vitality.

“We will work on clever manufacturing. We will create a tech alliance. We will combine protection industrial bases. We will make the Arctic a flagship joint undertaking,” she stated.

Von der Leyen added “this can be a partnership not towards anybody else” in a potential effort to keep away from antagonizing U.S. President Donald Trump.

(Reporting by Julia Payne, Yves Herman, Editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout and Philip Blenkinsop)