European Union leaders are opening the door to a new kind of partnership with Canada, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing that Brussels wants Ottawa to become the bloc's first associate member as tensions between Canada and the United States escalate over trade.
The proposal, unveiled Wednesday during von der Leyen's annual State of the European Union address in Strasbourg, France, represents a significant shift in the EU's approach to external partnerships. While Canada would not become a full EU member, the associate status would create a deeper economic and strategic relationship between Ottawa and the 27-nation bloc.
