EU creates council, sidelines US
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Von der Leyen announced an EU security plan to create a security council including the UK, Canada and Norway and measures against exploited migration, she said could exclude the US.
by Mark Hibbs
That's fine, but as you know and Von der Leyen must also know, there is no such thing as "associate membership" in the EU Treaty. Under Article 49, Canada would not be considered a European state. NATO handles most Euro-defense issues; the EU has non-NATO members.
L’UE et le Canada ne veulent pas «dominer les autres», assure Carney. → https://l.lefigaro.fr/DD7o
September 17, 2026 at 11:46 AM
That's fine, but as you know and Von der Leyen must also know, there is no such thing as "associate membership" in the EU Treaty. Under Article 49, Canada would not be considered a European state. NATO handles most Euro-defense issues; the EU has non-NATO members.
Reposted by Steven Fielding, Garry Peterson
Trump threatens EU with ‘serious tariffs’ after proposal to make Canada first associate member – Europe live
Trump threatens EU with ‘serious tariffs’ after proposal to make Canada first associate member – Europe live
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says such a partnership is for the European Union’s ‘common strength’
Back to Trump’s threats over the proposed “associate membership” for Canada overnight, France’s Europe minister Benjamin Haddad said in response that the EU has no power to veto EU’s geopolitical choices.
“It is not up to the United States – or anyone else – to choose the political and geopolitical direction of the Europeans. Once again, we have a relationship with Canada, and we are fully entitled to seek to deepen it,” Haddad said in an interview on Public Senat TV channel, reported by Reuters. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 17, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Trump threatens EU with ‘serious tariffs’ after proposal to make Canada first associate member – Europe live
'“We cannot decide on something that does not exist,” quipped one diplomat. A second said the idea would probably “die” in negotiations with member states. “It’s classic [von der Leyen],” noted a third. “Promise first, get approval later.”'
www.ft.com/content/7b1a...
www.ft.com/content/7b1a...
Why Mark Carney’s romance with Europe can only go so far
Berlin opposes fast track to EU ‘associate membership’ for Canada, with officials warning Ottawa risks angering other partners
www.ft.com
September 17, 2026 at 7:39 AM
'“We cannot decide on something that does not exist,” quipped one diplomat. A second said the idea would probably “die” in negotiations with member states. “It’s classic [von der Leyen],” noted a third. “Promise first, get approval later.”'
www.ft.com/content/7b1a...
www.ft.com/content/7b1a...
Remember: Canada spoke out in favour of its European allies over Greenland, while the EU, incl von der Leyen yesterday, has remained quiet over Trump's threat against Canada. Offering associate membership as a geopolitical move requires taking sides.
September 17, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Remember: Canada spoke out in favour of its European allies over Greenland, while the EU, incl von der Leyen yesterday, has remained quiet over Trump's threat against Canada. Offering associate membership as a geopolitical move requires taking sides.
The geopolitical holiday for the EU is long over. Von der Leyen should have known that offering a closer partnership to Canada will be seen as a threat for a US President that claims imperial control over the Western Hemisphere.
The European Commission replies to Trump:
"As our President made clear yesterday, the proposed strengthening of our partnership with Canada is not against anyone else, but for our common strength."
"As our President made clear yesterday, the proposed strengthening of our partnership with Canada is not against anyone else, but for our common strength."
September 17, 2026 at 7:14 AM
The geopolitical holiday for the EU is long over. Von der Leyen should have known that offering a closer partnership to Canada will be seen as a threat for a US President that claims imperial control over the Western Hemisphere.
Reposted by Peter Holmes
As we recall from past Brexit episodes, the EU is well aware that UK business need meaningful outcomes, and government threats are therefore rarely taken seriously. Yet UK politicians struggle to understand our third country status. encompass-europe.com/comment/how-...
How to achieve UK aims in Brussels
(a companion piece to everything Brussels really thinks about the UK)
There are 27 countries present and permanently negotiating almost every policy area in Brussels. These are the member…
encompass-europe.com
September 17, 2026 at 6:12 AM
As we recall from past Brexit episodes, the EU is well aware that UK business need meaningful outcomes, and government threats are therefore rarely taken seriously. Yet UK politicians struggle to understand our third country status. encompass-europe.com/comment/how-...
Reposted by Simon Usherwood, Nicolai von Ondarza, Peter Holmes
There is a real anger among UK businesses about the government's current handling of EU relations over "Made in Europe" and a fear that this year's summit and with it the whole reset is at risk. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
‘Made in Europe’ law threatens UK plans for reset with EU
Government sources say legislation aimed at China poses a risk to British businesses and must be addressed
www.theguardian.com
September 17, 2026 at 6:09 AM
There is a real anger among UK businesses about the government's current handling of EU relations over "Made in Europe" and a fear that this year's summit and with it the whole reset is at risk. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
by Laurent Pech
President von der Leyen: "Europe will always lead when it comes to defending the rules-based system."
Meanwhile, in the real world: euobserver.com/226421/the-i...
Meanwhile, in the real world: euobserver.com/226421/the-i...
September 17, 2026 at 5:55 AM
President von der Leyen: "Europe will always lead when it comes to defending the rules-based system."
Meanwhile, in the real world: euobserver.com/226421/the-i...
Meanwhile, in the real world: euobserver.com/226421/the-i...
www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-a... An important week in Canadian diplomacy! Commented for this story by CBC News - Eye on the Arctic about how potential Canadian associate membership in the EU could enhance Arctic cooperation. 🇨🇦🇪🇺@uitnorgesarktiske.bsky.social
Arctic would be "flagship project" in proposed EU-Canada partnership, von der Leyen says
The Arctic would become a centrepiece of a proposed new partnership between Canada and the European Union, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.
“We will make the Arct...
www.rcinet.ca
September 17, 2026 at 5:06 AM
www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-a... An important week in Canadian diplomacy! Commented for this story by CBC News - Eye on the Arctic about how potential Canadian associate membership in the EU could enhance Arctic cooperation. 🇨🇦🇪🇺@uitnorgesarktiske.bsky.social
by Andrew Watt
Jonas Nahm makes a number of apposite points here: bsky.app/profile/jona...
The EU needs to define statuses short of membership also for other cases incl. UK, Iceland, Ukraine. Complex, but important and urgent.
The EU needs to define statuses short of membership also for other cases incl. UK, Iceland, Ukraine. Complex, but important and urgent.
1/ Von der Leyen just offered Canada "associate membership" in the EU in her State of the Union address. Carney was in the chamber. Standing ovation. Perhaps the clearest sign yet that some countries are actively trying to build a new architecture for global trade.
September 17, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Jonas Nahm makes a number of apposite points here: bsky.app/profile/jona...
The EU needs to define statuses short of membership also for other cases incl. UK, Iceland, Ukraine. Complex, but important and urgent.
The EU needs to define statuses short of membership also for other cases incl. UK, Iceland, Ukraine. Complex, but important and urgent.
by Jonas Nahm
6/ The "associate membership" category von der Leyen proposed doesn't exist in EU law. As Brussels is beginning to recognize its own gravitational pull, it's acting on it faster than its own institutions can absorb.
September 16, 2026 at 11:20 PM
6/ The "associate membership" category von der Leyen proposed doesn't exist in EU law. As Brussels is beginning to recognize its own gravitational pull, it's acting on it faster than its own institutions can absorb.
by Per Ahlberg
And yet it’s the most stupid, counterproductive thing they could possibly do. Because the real danger for Europe is complacency. We like a quiet, peaceful life, and if 🇷🇺 convinced us that we are not threatened we might let our guard down like we did in the 90s. The ceaseless attacks achieve the
September 16, 2026 at 6:53 PM
And yet it’s the most stupid, counterproductive thing they could possibly do. Because the real danger for Europe is complacency. We like a quiet, peaceful life, and if 🇷🇺 convinced us that we are not threatened we might let our guard down like we did in the 90s. The ceaseless attacks achieve the
Big win for Carney and Canada!
apnews.com/article/euro...
apnews.com/article/euro...
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says she wants Canada to become the bloc's 1st associate member
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada the European Union’s first associate member, a striking overture as U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats drive Ottawa closer to Europe.
apnews.com
September 16, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Big win for Carney and Canada!
apnews.com/article/euro...
apnews.com/article/euro...