Canada EU Association Sparks Skepticism
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and EU leaders sketched a new strategic Canada–EU alliance, including a proposal for Canadian associated membership, prompting skeptical reactions in Europe.
"The action literally punctures the Trump narrative that we’re in the golden age. If we’re in the golden age, people wouldn’t be turning to Europe. People wouldn’t be turning to Canada." www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Canada might not join the EU. Why Trump slapped down the idea anyway.
President Donald Trump called a proposal for Canada to join the EU as an associate member a “hostile act.”
www.politico.com
September 18, 2026 at 7:48 PM
"The action literally punctures the Trump narrative that we’re in the golden age. If we’re in the golden age, people wouldn’t be turning to Europe. People wouldn’t be turning to Canada." www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Instead of debating “should we do what Canada is doing” (which is, so far, unclear), the debate could be: “how has the world changed that the EU and Canada are considering this, and how do we want to deal with this situation?“
Just a suggestion.
Just a suggestion.
September 18, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Instead of debating “should we do what Canada is doing” (which is, so far, unclear), the debate could be: “how has the world changed that the EU and Canada are considering this, and how do we want to deal with this situation?“
Just a suggestion.
Just a suggestion.
Reposted by Albert Weale, Iikka Korhonen
More customers for our businesses. More investment in our industries. More choices for work and education.
That’s what a stronger alliance with the EU can deliver.
That’s what a stronger alliance with the EU can deliver.
September 18, 2026 at 4:52 PM
More customers for our businesses. More investment in our industries. More choices for work and education.
That’s what a stronger alliance with the EU can deliver.
That’s what a stronger alliance with the EU can deliver.
NEW!
What would “associate” EU membership for Canada look like and why it might not happen.
What would “associate” EU membership for Canada look like and why it might not happen.
Making Canada the EU’s first ‘associate member’ may be a solution in search of a problem.
What might Canada’s EU ‘associate membership’ look like, and is it even a possibility?
Making Canada the EU’s first ‘associate member’ may be a solution in search of a problem.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 9:08 PM
NEW!
What would “associate” EU membership for Canada look like and why it might not happen.
What would “associate” EU membership for Canada look like and why it might not happen.
by Jacob T. Levy Reposted by Samantha Brennan
A very dumb WaPo board editorial— as if in two years the US-Canada relationship can just go back to the status quo ante, as if the last decade hasn't happened.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Canada’s great European misadventure
Donald Trump is for now. A Brussels bureaucrat is forever.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 18, 2026 at 8:42 AM
A very dumb WaPo board editorial— as if in two years the US-Canada relationship can just go back to the status quo ante, as if the last decade hasn't happened.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
This
UK-EU relations are a function of how UK wants to engage with the world in general
UK-EU relations are a function of how UK wants to engage with the world in general
Instead of debating “should we do what Canada is doing” (which is, so far, unclear), the debate could be: “how has the world changed that the EU and Canada are considering this, and how do we want to deal with this situation?“
Just a suggestion.
Just a suggestion.
September 18, 2026 at 3:32 PM
This
UK-EU relations are a function of how UK wants to engage with the world in general
UK-EU relations are a function of how UK wants to engage with the world in general
by Ian Bremmer
joined mary louise kelly to discuss what's behind canada's turn to the eu
across the political spectrum, canada is unified in feeling deeply vulnerable...
at the expense of its main ally
@npr.org
www.npr.org/2026/09/17/n...
across the political spectrum, canada is unified in feeling deeply vulnerable...
at the expense of its main ally
@npr.org
www.npr.org/2026/09/17/n...
Behind the overture from the European Union to Canada
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Ian Bremmer, president and founder of the Eurasia Group, about the latest developments between Canada, the European Union and the U.S.
www.npr.org
September 18, 2026 at 5:19 PM
joined mary louise kelly to discuss what's behind canada's turn to the eu
across the political spectrum, canada is unified in feeling deeply vulnerable...
at the expense of its main ally
@npr.org
www.npr.org/2026/09/17/n...
across the political spectrum, canada is unified in feeling deeply vulnerable...
at the expense of its main ally
@npr.org
www.npr.org/2026/09/17/n...
Reposted by Anand Menon, Seán Hanley, Simon Usherwood
"The very ambition that could make Associate Membership meaningful for Canada makes it difficult for Britain."
🌊 Fabian Zuleeg looks at the meaning of Associate EU Membership & argues while it could work across the Atlantic, it is unlikely to work across the Channel
🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/associate-me...
🌊 Fabian Zuleeg looks at the meaning of Associate EU Membership & argues while it could work across the Atlantic, it is unlikely to work across the Channel
🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/associate-me...
Associate Membership: What might work across the Atlantic is unlikely to work across the Channel - UK in a changing Europe
Fabian Zuleeg argues that even if Canada becoming an Associate Member of the EU is successful, which depends on it becoming an ambitious, clearly defined and well-managed structure, it is not a future...
ukandeu.ac.uk
September 18, 2026 at 12:59 PM
"The very ambition that could make Associate Membership meaningful for Canada makes it difficult for Britain."
🌊 Fabian Zuleeg looks at the meaning of Associate EU Membership & argues while it could work across the Atlantic, it is unlikely to work across the Channel
🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/associate-me...
🌊 Fabian Zuleeg looks at the meaning of Associate EU Membership & argues while it could work across the Atlantic, it is unlikely to work across the Channel
🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/associate-me...
by Ben Rosamond
This is all very well, but the US relies heavily on the EU for chemical and pharmaceutical products, machine tools and electrical goods. He must have missed the week on international trade at Wharton.
Trump threatens to cut off all trade with Europe if Canada associates closer with the EU
September 18, 2026 at 3:36 PM
This is all very well, but the US relies heavily on the EU for chemical and pharmaceutical products, machine tools and electrical goods. He must have missed the week on international trade at Wharton.
Can Canada Become an Associate Member of the EU? And how would that look like?
September 18, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Can Canada Become an Associate Member of the EU? And how would that look like?
Back in Canada, journalists asked me to comment on European and Belgian politics, now I get to talk about Canadian politics! 😅
Two media appearances in one day!
Prof. Dr. @rdassonneville.bsky.social was featured in both Het Kwartier and Terzake, discussing the growing rapprochement between Canada and the European Union and what it means in today's geopolitical context.
For the links, see first comment
Prof. Dr. @rdassonneville.bsky.social was featured in both Het Kwartier and Terzake, discussing the growing rapprochement between Canada and the European Union and what it means in today's geopolitical context.
For the links, see first comment
September 18, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Back in Canada, journalists asked me to comment on European and Belgian politics, now I get to talk about Canadian politics! 😅
by Steve Peers
Not sure what your point is here, especially given that Member States *did* vote for the *EU* to conclude CETA. As I also point out in the blog post, not all treaties which the EU might agree with Canada require Member State ratification.
September 18, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Not sure what your point is here, especially given that Member States *did* vote for the *EU* to conclude CETA. As I also point out in the blog post, not all treaties which the EU might agree with Canada require Member State ratification.
by Scott Lucas
EA on PoliticsJOE: #Canada and #EU Make History as #Trump Throws A Tantrum (Scott Lucas with Ava Santini)
#Carney #ElbowsUp
eaworldview.com/2026/09/cana...
#Carney #ElbowsUp
eaworldview.com/2026/09/cana...
EA on PoliticsJOE: Canada and EU Make History as Trump Throws A Tantrum - EA WorldView
23 minutes on historic advance of EU and "associate member" Canada --- even as Donald Trump rants that he might cut off all trade with Europe
eaworldview.com
September 18, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by Michelle Dion
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks to the European Parliament, following the European Union's invitation to Canada to become the bloc's first "associate member," which rankled President Trump. n.pr/4AfAMmJ
Canada's Carney welcomes the EU's bid for closer ties amid pressure from Trump
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks to the European Parliament, following the European Union's invitation to Canada to become the bloc's first "associate member," which rankled President Trump.
n.pr
September 18, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks to the European Parliament, following the European Union's invitation to Canada to become the bloc's first "associate member," which rankled President Trump. n.pr/4AfAMmJ
Reposted by Kenneth A. Armstrong
Making Canada the EU’s first ‘associate member’ may be a solution in search of a problem.
What might Canada’s EU ‘associate membership’ look like, and is it even a possibility?
Making Canada the EU’s first ‘associate member’ may be a solution in search of a problem.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Making Canada the EU’s first ‘associate member’ may be a solution in search of a problem.
tl;dr every state is different
Nice piece
Nice piece
"The very ambition that could make Associate Membership meaningful for Canada makes it difficult for Britain."
🌊 Fabian Zuleeg looks at the meaning of Associate EU Membership & argues while it could work across the Atlantic, it is unlikely to work across the Channel
🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/associate-me...
🌊 Fabian Zuleeg looks at the meaning of Associate EU Membership & argues while it could work across the Atlantic, it is unlikely to work across the Channel
🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/associate-me...
Associate Membership: What might work across the Atlantic is unlikely to work across the Channel - UK in a changing Europe
Fabian Zuleeg argues that even if Canada becoming an Associate Member of the EU is successful, which depends on it becoming an ambitious, clearly defined and well-managed structure, it is not a future...
ukandeu.ac.uk
September 18, 2026 at 2:58 PM
tl;dr every state is different
Nice piece
Nice piece
by Amir Attaran
Erasmus (wryly known as Orgasmus to legions of European students) is a brilliant international student exchange program. Canadians could study anywhere in the EU’s college and university system. That would be beyond awesome.
Carney wants Canada to join Europe's Erasmus+ program. What is it? | CBC News
Prime Minister Mark Carney pitched Canada's involvement in Europe's flagship exchange program while speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
www.cbc.ca
September 18, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Erasmus (wryly known as Orgasmus to legions of European students) is a brilliant international student exchange program. Canadians could study anywhere in the EU’s college and university system. That would be beyond awesome.
Enjoying 'reading' my Le Monde this morning. Top story the EU-Canada alliance
September 18, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Enjoying 'reading' my Le Monde this morning. Top story the EU-Canada alliance
Reposted by Simon Lester
Mark Carney wants the U.K. and Germany to join Canada’s new defence bank, says lead negotiator https://mrf.lu/2hRRl
September 18, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Mark Carney wants the U.K. and Germany to join Canada’s new defence bank, says lead negotiator https://mrf.lu/2hRRl
Reposted by Robert Wolfe, Simon Lester
Carney’s pivot to Europe takes him to French islands off Newfoundland
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
Carney’s pivot to Europe takes him to a French island off Newfoundland
Élysée Palace said the Prime Minister’s meeting with Macron at Saint-Pierre and Miquelon will reaffirm the ‘sovereignty of nations’
www.theglobeandmail.com
September 18, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Carney’s pivot to Europe takes him to French islands off Newfoundland
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...