Von der Leyen Offers Canada a Path to Become First EU Associate Member

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that she wants to work with him to pave the way for Canada to become the first associate member state of the European Union.

The offer was most likely improvised. At that point no such agreement had been defined or discussed, so it was unclear what associate membership would look like in practice.

Improvisation and the roots of the EU

Criticising von der Leyen for the spontaneous statement is difficult. Improvisation once laid the foundations of the European Union itself.

The idea is viewed as part of a European–Canadian partnership taking shape amid pressure from Donald Trump.