EU invites Canada to become its first associate member

Canada has been invited to become the European Union’s first associate member, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced during her state of the union speech in Strasbourg, according to The Telegraph. Addressing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, she pledged to elevate ties to “the highest level,” though the associate status remains legally undefined and subject to negotiation.

The move follows growing tensions between Canada and the US under Donald Trump, whose tariffs and rhetoric about annexation have pushed Ottawa toward Europe. Von der Leyen also announced an EU-wide social media ban for under-13s and a new European Security Council involving Canada, Ukraine, Norway and the UK.