Em direto. Canadá: Bruxelas diz a Trump que futura parceria não é contra ninguém

Commission chief previewed some of the main elements of the upcoming EU security strategy, namely a European Security Council, an emergency protocol and a strategic enabler instrument.

The announcements have prompted more questions than anything else. How much will the new initiatives overlap with existing structures and the coalition of the willing? Will they effectively deter Russia’s ongoing escalation? Where will Europe find the money to replace the EU withdrawal of strategic capabilities?

Oana Lungescu, NATO's former spokesperson, said that while it's welcome that the Commission President wants closer EU-NATO cooperation, it's hard to see how this would actually deter Russia. "Protocols and playbooks already exist in both organisations," she said.

Inside von der Leyen’s pitch for a new EU security architecture

The State of the Union speech saw the Commission president outline what sound like grand plans for European security, but big questions remain unanswered. #Eur…

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand told Euronews in May that Ottawa was “very enthusiastic” to continue working with Europe and other “like-minded countries”.

“What I believe we should be looking at is how we can work together pragmatically for our respective countries to deliver economic benefits and defence and security benefits,” she said.

From a defence perspective, this is already exemplified through the EU and Canada Security and Defence Partnership, finalised in 2025. This was seen as one of the first steps by Canada to shift its reliance away from the United States, and an increasingly bellicose Donald Trump, towards like-minded allies.

Most importantly, this partnership paved the way for Ottawa to participate in the EU’s €150 billion SAFE loan programme. As part of the European Commission’s push to ensure that the 27 EU member states have enough financing and capabilities to ward off aggression, it means that the Canadian defence industry can supply a portion of capabilities as part of these orders.

Hypothetically, this could span the production of anti-drone technology to weapons supporting a land army, for example.

How that could be expanded upon with potential EU associate membership is yet to be seen, but the new relationship could also forge deeper collaboration in regions that occupy the focus of both Brussels and Ottawa, such as the Arctic. 

Yesterday’s surprise invitation from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for Canada to become an “associate” member of the EU came as Ottawa’s relationship with its closest ally, the United States, continues to deteriorate amid a trade war that has been ongoing since late August.

Two weeks ago, trade talks broke down after Canada left the negotiating table, accusing Washington of seeking concessions on French-language protections, with French being one of Canada’s two official languages.

US President Donald Trump responded by announcing tariffs of up to 50% on Canadian cars and trucks. On Tuesday, the measures were extended to additional products, including certain steel goods. Canada has also imposed tariffs on $20 billion (around €17.5 billion) worth of US imports.

In the days that followed, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for stronger ties with the EU.

Ottawa faces mounting pressure to diversify its trade relationships, given its heavy dependence on the US: more than 70% of Canadian exports were destined for its southern neighbour in 2025.

While Canada will need to broaden its economic focus towards Europe and Asia, the two North American economies remain deeply integrated, making any rapid shift away from the US market difficult.

German MEP David McAllister, chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, criticised US President Donald Trump after he threatened to impose tariffs in response to the EU’s proposal to make Canada the bloc’s first associate member.

"If Trump would have listened carefully, he would have understood that this is not against any third country," McAllister told Euronews in an interview.

Most MEPs have reacted positively to Ursula von der Leyen's proposal yesterday to make Canada an associate member of the EU.

In an interview with Euronews in June, Canadian Climate Minister Julia Dabrusin had hailed a "wonderful and strong" partnership with the EU, noting that cooperation on climate action will "deepen" the ties between the two blocs.

She highlighted carbon pricing, a carbon border tax, methane laws and the massive infrastructure investment needed to electrify the economy as common challenges and opportunities faced by the EU and Canada to deepen transatlantic ties.

"Climate action can be very much at the center of the work that we're doing, so I think that it's a lovely moment for Canada and the EU, and I'm really happy after having spent these few days here in Europe, to be able to see how we can build this stronger relationship together, and I know that that is definitely a focus for our Prime Minister Mark Carney as we move forward,” Dabrusin said in June. 

The fact that Canada and the European Union take the "extraordinary step" of seeking associate EU membership for Ottowa is "a sign of the times we live in", European Commissioner for Climate, Wopke Hoekstra, has told Euronews' EU Editor Maria Tadeo in Strasbourg.

"The world is in turmoil, that many of the rules that we thought were holy and were to be respected, are no longer (respected)," he said. "And therefore you have to look for allies who share the same values, have the same outlook, have same interests in geopolitics, in climate, in the economy, in trade."

The invitation for Canada to become an associate member of the bloc is widely seen as the result of President Trump's aggressive trade policy, and the US's escalating trade conflict with its North American neighbour.

Carney, due to address the European Parliament's chamber at 11.30 CET, had earlier this year pitched for a global alliance of "middle powers" to lead on re-establishing a world based order eroded by Trump.

The Conservative Party of Canada, the main opposition force, has sharply criticised Prime Minister Mark Carney for seeking "associate membership" with the European Union without a mandate from the Canadian parliament. The idea, it must be noted, was put forward by Ursula von der Leyen, not Carney.

Conservatives portrayed the project, which is yet to be fleshed out, as a transfer of national sovereignty to Brussels.

"The Prime Minister can’t seem to get his story straight about the 'associate membership', 'unique alliance', or whatever else he is negotiating with the EU," Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said on social media.

"Conservatives are clear: we support the decades-old free trade & NATO defence alliance with Europe. But no EU taxes, no EU laws, and no EU open-border immigration policies should be imposed on Canadians," he added. "Canada must be independent and sovereign. Period."

Shuvaloy Majumdar, a Conservative lawmaker, stressed that Parliament should be consulted. "To what degree is the Prime Minister offering up Canadian sovereignty to become the 28th member of the European Union?" he said, according to local media.

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič told Euronews that the status of “associate” member of the EU attributed to Canada on Wednesday was a way to stand in solidarity with Canada in its trade war against the US.

Washington and Ottawa have been at loggerheads since late August after trade talks collapsed. The US has announced tariffs of up to 50% on a range of products, while Canada has retaliated with tariffs on US imports worth around $20 billion.

“What we are expressing here from one side, it's solidarity with Canada. At the same time, I believe that American and Canadian negotiators will find way back to the negotiating table,” Šefčovič said.

The Commissioner added that the status of “associate member” also reflected that the EU and Canada were “very compatible”, “not only societies, but also economies”.

“I think in this fragmented world, we are looking for the allies, all of us.”

Šefčovič said that Canada and the EU were looking for partners sharing the same values when it comes to reform of the World Trade Organisation, future trade partnerships, security cooperation and defence.

The Canadian government is in talks with the European Commission to join the Erasmus+ exchange program, which would allow European and Canadian students to study and be trained in each other’s universities.

"Canadians want to participate in Erasmus+. It will be expensive for them, but they are ready to do that," MEP Javier Moreno Sánchez (Spain/S&D), chair of the European Parliament's delegation to Canada, told reporters.

The talks are still at an early stage. Several other non-EU countries take part in what is considered one of the most successful European projects, which would likely provide the framework for Canada’s participation.

Canada in talks to join EU’s Erasmus+ exchanges programme

Canada is in early talks to join Erasmus+ and possibly Horizon Europe, as Ottawa and Brussels weigh an unprecedented “associate membership” of the EU short of…

In her State of the Union address, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada to be the first associate member of the EU and described the broader relationship as an “Alliance for the Future”, covering defence, energy, technology, critical minerals and the Arctic.

For European companies, that shift is already creating opportunities in defence, aerospace and industrial technology.

Read Piero Cingari's story here :

The ‘Canada effect’: Which European companies could win?

The US trade war is pushing Canada towards Europe. Defence, aerospace and industrial technology are where European companies may gain first.

In a recent talk with Euronews, Canada’s climate minister Julie Dabrusin pointed to the country’s role as a co-convener of the Global Methane Pledge — an international initiative launched at COP26 by the US and the EU — and said Ottawa would continue working with other countries to cut the potent greenhouse gas.

Canada has been a leader for a very long time on methane, the minister said, pointing to strengthened domestic rules covering oil and gas as well as landfill emissions.

The message comes as the EU faces pressure over its own methane rules, including debate over a binding proposed temporary waiver of penalties.

Canada’s climate minister Julie Dabrusin described the relationship with Brussels as a “strong and deepening” partnership, highlighting cooperation on methane and the countries’ joint role as co-conveners of the Global Methane Pledge, an international initiative launched at COP26 by the US and the EU in 2021.

Talking to Euronews in late June, Dabrusin also pointed to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s focus on strengthening ties with Europe.

The comments come as the EU looks for international partners on climate at a time when Washington’s approach to energy and climate policy is increasingly diverging from Brussels.

The main newspapers in Canada have put Ursula von der Leyen's pitch for "associate membership" at the very top of their front pages today, showing the strong interest inside the country.

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, has told Euronews that closer ties between the European Union and Canada are "not against anyone", adding that she didn't fear retaliation from Washington.

The interview was recorded before US President Donald Trump threatened to cut trade with the EU or impose "very serious tariffs" in response to the bloc's proposal to make Canada its first-ever "associate member".

Trump dismissed the prospect of Canada joining the EU as "laughable" and described the country as a "terrible trade partner".

"We are not saying this is against anyone, or any country in particular," Metsola said. "But when friends come to us and say, 'let's do more', we will be the first ones to fling open the door." She added that the United States had no grounds for retaliation.

"We are equal partners," she said. "We want to deal with each other with equality, with dignity and respect."

Metsola also said Australia and New Zealand could follow Canada in seeking associate EU membership.

Metsola: Australia, New Zealand could be next EU ‘associated members’

Metsola tells Euronews pitch for “associate membership” with Canada will strengthen cooperation with like-minded countries and incite new ones. #EuropeToday

Ireland has thrown its weight behind the novel idea of granting "associate membership" for Canada, becoming one of the first, if not the first, EU countries to endorse the move explicitly.

"I welcome the announcement of President von der Leyen in her State of the Union address to explore associate membership for Canada," Ireland's Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said on Wednesday.

Thomas Byrne, Ireland's minister for European affairs, who attended von der Leyen's speech, said the proposal was a "significant moment".

"The EU-Canada partnership is one of mutual benefit and common strength," Byrne said.

Ireland currently holds the EU Council's rotating presidency.

I welcome the announcement of President von der Leyen in her State of the Union address to explore associate membership for Canada.

— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) September 16, 2026

Good morning! We are following the aftermath of Ursula von der Leyen's headline-making invitation to Canada to become the European Union's first-ever "associate member".

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to address the European Parliament at 11.30 am. Will he offer his own interpretation of what "associate membership" means?