Ursula von der Leyen says EU, Canada "see the world with the same eyes" in associate member pitch

At the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen backed opening a path for Canada to become the EU’s first associate member, saying the two sides agree on artificial intelligence, climate, geopolitics and democracy. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who attended the address and was scheduled to speak Thursday, has sought a unique alliance with the EU as Canada faces tense relations and collapsed trade talks with the US. Von der Leyen listed manufacturing, technology, defense, energy, critical minerals and economic security as possible areas of cooperation, and proposed moving beyond the existing CETA trade agreement toward a broader framework covering prosperity and economic security. She also floated a European Security Council including the UK and Ukraine. The push comes as EU members also face US tariffs.