What we know about the proposed partnership between Canada and the EU - CBC

Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday. (Jean-Christophe Verhaegen/AFP/Getty Images)Social SharingPrime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen each gave speeches this week that provide more detail about a new partnership between Canada and the EU — but there is still much left to be hammered out.

Here's what we know about the pitch for Canada to become the European Union's first "associate member" — or what Carney prefers to call "an alliance for the future."

The CBC's readers, viewers and listeners have been very interested in the details, and the questions below partially reflect those sent to CBC's inbox over the last several days.

Not as a full member, Carney has said repeatedly, going back more than a year.

But during his speech before the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday, Carney said he "welcomes the ambition" of von der Leyen's proposal that Canada become the EU's first associate member of the 27-nation bloc.

Nobody knows for certain yet. "Associate member" is not a legal designation, though various versions of an associate-type membership have been floated over the years, including a recent proposal for Ukraine that did not gain traction.

A senior Canadian official, who offered information to CBC News on a not-for-attribution basis, said the "associate member" label is one of a few that have been considered and that Canada did not propose it.

The official said they did a deep analysis of the EU's relationships with non-members Norway, Switzerland, the U.K. and Georgia, and said none of those would work because the Canadian government does not want to give up independence in return for access.

Carney did not mention associate membership in his speech, beyond noting von der Leyen's proposal.

In her speech Wednesday, von der Leyen said the EU wants to bring its relationship with Canada to "the highest level possible." The state of the union address was about more than just Canada, but briefly touched on the two sides working together on manufacturing, technology, defence, the Arctic, energy and security.

Canada and the EU already have a provisionally applied free-trade deal (CETA), a non-trade Strategic Partnership Agreement, as well as a Security and Defence Partnership signed in June 2025.

Carney was also explicit that he was not proposing Canada and the EU join forces to become a great-power rival. He instead hopes the partnership can be a "beacon for other democracies."

Geneviève Tuts, the EU ambassador to Canada, has said any concrete details are more likely to come at a Canada-EU summit scheduled for Oct. 29-30 in Montreal.

Many items are unsettled, including what it would be called, what Canada might give up, whether there would be any mobility changes beyond student exchanges, and — most important of all — whether EU member states and Canada's Parliament would approve the deal.

Carney says Parliament will debate and vote on the structure of any alliance with the EU. Some EU diplomats have already raised concerns about the proposal, saying it had not been discussed with member states, Reuters reported.

There is no suggestion von der Leyen is proposing enshrining the status of "associate member" in EU treaties. That would require unanimity among all 27 countries and ratification by all domestically, which is highly unlikely.

Even the Canada-EU free trade agreement, which is nine years old, is still only in place in 17 of the 27 countries.