Stronger together? EU leaders want Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to be associate members

Europe and Canada share a deep friendship, rooted in a history that shaped who we are.

Now, we’re breaking new ground. Expanding our alliance to boost trade, protect communities and improve lives.

Together, we’re stronger.

@CanadianPM @MarkJCarney 🇪🇺🇨🇦

https://t.co/QpnDDv5OF8

— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) September 17, 2026

COGwriter

“Stronger together” was an official campaign slogan for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign as well as the title of her official campaign platform book.

Canada’s Prime Minister is using that expression in regards to being associated with the European Union:

Canada’s Carney welcomes associate status idea in EU speech

17 September 2026

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was addressing the European Parliament on Thursday, in a speech that focused on Canada‘s and the European Union‘s shared security and economic interests.

In an address in which Carney spoke in English, French and German, the Canadian prime minister lauded European culture and values of democracy, freedom and human rights, which he said Canada shares.

“We are not fair-weather allies. We do not pursue zero-sum deals. Our commitment to the rule of law, and our unyielding defense of human dignity, individual freedom and democracy share the same deep roots, the same unwavering dedication,” the Canadian leader told the chamber, to applause.

Europe and Canada are ‘stronger together’, Carney tells EU Parliament

“We hold common values for which we have always fought and in whose defense we must always remain vigilant,” he said.

Carney also said his country “welcomes” the “ambition” of the EU’s proposal of an “associated membership”.

“Europe and Canada are each strong,” he said. But he added that “Europe and Canada are even stronger together.”

“I am not proposing a third bloc in order to become a great-power rival — only with better manners,” he said. “We do not seek power to dominate others.”

“The ​objective is not ⁠self-sufficiency, ​it’s ​collective resilience”, Carney ​said.

His speech to European lawmakers comes as the EU and Canada look to strengthen their ties amid a growing rift between Canada and its southern neighbor and main trading partner, the US. … On Wednesday, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU was willing to make Canada its first-ever “associate member,” days after the Wall Street Journal reported that Carney was exploring an “associate membership” with the bloc, a position that does not currently exist. https://www.dw.com/en/canadas-carney-welcomes-associate-status-idea-in-eu-speech/a-79306191

17 September 2026

“Canada and Europe are stronger together,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in his address to the European Parliament.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has welcomed the invitation for his country to become the European Union’s first-ever “associate member” in a speech delivered before the European Parliament on Thursday. …

He later stressed that the outcome of the negotiations would respect Canadian sovereignty and be put to a final vote in Ottawa. Notably, he said the “nomenclature” would be for Brussels to discuss and decide.

“Canada welcomes this ambition. And I will tell you, polling shows that an overwhelming majority of Canadians support much closer ties with Europe,” he said in Strasbourg.

Carney portrayed an ever-closer EU-Canada alliance as a “beacon for other democracies” based on shared values and “open enough that others can join”. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/09/17/associate-membership-for-canada-is-not-against-anyone-brussels-tells-trump

It is interesting that Mark Carney also used the word “resilience.” This was also a term the BRICS meeting chose earlier this week, which I basically interpreted to mean the ability to function well while resisting USA pressures (see BRICS in India: Does ‘Resilience’ mean resisting pressures from the USA?)–and that is what Mark Carney seems to also be trying to do.

Donald Trump is not pleased with this associate member of the EU idea:

17 September 2026

How did Trump respond to Canada’s EU associate membership idea?

In comments to reporters on Wednesday, Trump said the idea could become a “hostile act.” He threatened to impose sanctions on the EU in response.

“If they do that, if I think it’s at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe on many things,” Trump told reporters en route to an event in North Carolina.

The US president also described the prospect of Canada joining the EU as “laughable.” …

Washington’s transatlantic ties have also suffered under Trump, most notably after the US president’s push to take control of the Arctic island of Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

The EU was also hit by Trump’s wide tariffs, as were most countries worldwide, but the two sides reached a trade agreement to bring them down. https://www.dw.com/en/trump-threatens-eu-with-further-sanctions-over-canada/a-79299548

President Donald Trump pulled out one of his favorite words as he threatened retaliation if the European Union were to admit Canada as an associate member.

Trump told reporters Wednesday that he might respond with “serious tariffs” if Canada were to become integrated with the 27-member EU to a degree that he perceived would be hostile to the U.S. amid a trade war with its northern neighbor. …

“Canada’s been a terrible trade partner,” Trump told reporters at the airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, when asked about the proposal. “If I think it’s at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe on many things,” he added.

Trump left open the possibility that he would accept the arrangement if he believed it was made with “a good intention,” but warned that the U.S. could otherwise impose “very heavy tariffs on Europe.” https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/16/trump-threatens-to-impose-serious-tariffs-on-europe-if-canada-joins-eu-as-associate-member-01081525

The President of the European Union Parliament has welcomed the idea of Canada being an associate member of the EU and has even suggested adding Australia and New Zealand:

Australia and New Zealand could follow Canada into associated EU membership, Metsola tells Euronews

17 September 2026

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has told Euronews that countries including Australia and New Zealand could follow Canada in becoming “associate members” of the European Union as like-minded nations seek closer ties. …

Metsola described the proposed status as a third way between full EU membership and candidate status.

“There are countries with which we want to deepen our relationship,” Metsola said. …

The EU already has trade agreements with both countries, providing a potential starting point for closer cooperation. A similar relationship has been proposed with Canada, which signed a comprehensive trade agreement with the EU in 2016.

Asked about the technicalities of what associate membership would look like, Metsola acknowledged that talks are still at an early stage, while pointing to deeper trade relations, access to critical raw materials and common regulations on issues that “like-minded” countries care deeply about, such as social media and the protection of minors. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/09/17/australia-and-new-zealand-could-follow-canada-into-associated-eu-membership-metsola-tells-

Australia is highly involved with the USA related to military alliances. As it is unlikely that Australia believes that the EU can protect it, it would seem to be very hesitant to pursue something like this considering the risks. Yet, both Australia and New Zealand are very concerned about trade and would like to have more trade with the European Union.

Since becoming Prime Minister, Mark Carney has pushed Canada towards closer relationships with the European Union as well as the UK. A major part of the motivation for this has been statements and policies of Donald Trump and his Administration.

Here is something I posted about this on March 18, 2025:

Canada is in a precarious position these days and Donald Trump seems willing to try to cause Canada a lot of economic pain to get it to accede to his demands. Canada’s economy is highly dependent upon the USA’s economy, not the other way around.

That said, one of the unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s statements and policies has been to get allies to question purchasing weaponry from the United States.

… Canada, consider that the Bible prophesies that the time will come when the USA (Manasseh below) will turn against its British-descended allies (Ephraim below), including Canada, and vice-versa:

There have been many unintended consequences of the Trump-Vance Administration. Offending many nations, including Canada, has happened. And there will be more.

And while the Trump-Vance Administration seems to believe that any damage to the USA will be minimal, in the long run this will not turn out well for the USA.

The Trump-Vance Administration is pushing national friends and allies to become enemies. (Thiel B. Canada’s Mark Carney speaks of Canada being European, but realizes USA has economic leverage; Germany votes for a major military move. COGwriter, March 18, 2026)