EU rolls out red carpet to Canada to become its first 'associate member'

The European Union's top official backs the Canadian prime minister's push for his country to become the bloc's first "associate member," as Brussels seeks to deepen ties amid pressure from the U.S.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8256x5504+0+0/resize/8256x5504!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7d%2Fff%2Fd810a362425492097b6bbb08af9f%2Fgettyimages-2294992860.jpg' alt='Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney listens to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her annual State of the Union address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Sept. 16, 2026. Von der Leyen proposed opening the door for Canada to become the EU's first "associate member."'/><p>The European Union's top official backs the Canadian prime minister's push for his country to become the bloc's first "associate member," as Brussels seeks to deepen ties amid pressure from the U.S.</p><p>(Image credit: Jean-Christophe-Verhaegen)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5971043' />