By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Union leaders concluded a two-day summit in Montreal on Friday, advancing an unprecedented proposal to make Canada the bloc’s first associate member as both sides seek to lessen their reliance on the United States.
Associate membership proposal
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa pressed for the designation, which would bring Canada closer to the EU than any previous arrangement with a non-member country. Carney explicitly endorsed the term “associate member” during a business roundtable, saying the alliance would help Canada withstand economic shocks and prevent foreign governments and technology companies from dictating its choices.
Broader alliance envisioned
Von der Leyen described the proposed “Alliance for the Future” as a wider partnership open to other like-minded countries, with Canada and the EU at its core. She said the alliance would focus on critical minerals, resilient supply chains, defense and security.
Trade and digital agreements
The two sides announced a digital trade agreement and initiatives to expand scientific research partnerships and university exchanges. Carney aims to double Canadian exports to non-U.S. markets over the next decade; the United States accounted for 71.7% of Canada’s merchandise exports in 2025.
US response
U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested the EU arrangement could be a “hostile act” and threatened tariffs on Europe if he deemed it unfriendly.
