OTTAWA — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says this week’s Canada-EU Summit opens up discussions on making Canada the bloc’s first “associate member.”

She says while geography bars Canada from full membership in the bloc, both sides “are discussing the idea of Canada becoming the first associate member of the European Union.”

After von der Leyen proposed associate member status in a September speech, Canadian and European officials immediately downplayed the language and instead spoke of an “alliance for the future.”

EU member nations such as Germany rejected the term this week when proposed language was floated in documents ahead of the summit.

Several European news agencies reported this week that idea was off the table, but von der Leyen now says the term will help deepen policy alignment.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the substance of the agreement is more important than the language used to describe the evolving relationship.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2026.

David Baxter, The Canadian Press