BRUSSELS, (Unib Rashid) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has offered to work with Canada to open the way for the country to become the European Union’s first associate member outside Europe.

Addressing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was present at the European Parliament for her 2026 State of the Union address, von der Leyen said the EU wanted to take its relationship with Canada to the highest possible level.

“I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the European Union,” she said, signalling a potentially significant new phase in EU-Canada relations.

The proposal came as part of a broader emphasis in von der Leyen’s annual address on strengthening Europe’s strategic partnerships and security cooperation. The State of the Union address is the European Commission president’s annual opportunity to review progress and set priorities for the year ahead.

EU Plans New Security Cooperation Mechanism

Earlier in her address, von der Leyen also outlined plans for a stronger European security framework to respond to hybrid threats.

She said Europe needed its own mechanism to deal with hybrid attacks and proposed an emergency security protocol under which, when activated by one member state, EU countries would coordinate a common European response.

The proposed security cooperation would also involve partners including Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Norway and Canada. Reports on the speech said von der Leyen also backed the creation of a European Security Council involving EU members and partner countries.

The European Commission has already been working on strengthening the EU’s ability to respond to hybrid threats, including cyberattacks, sabotage, foreign interference and other activities targeting European security and stability.

Canada-EU Relations

The proposed associate-member status would mark a new form of cooperation between Canada and the European Union if it moves forward. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has previously spoken of seeking a closer and distinctive relationship with the EU, without pursuing full EU membership.

Von der Leyen’s proposal places Canada at the centre of the EU’s efforts to deepen strategic partnerships beyond the bloc’s borders, particularly in trade, security and broader cooperation.

The annual State of the Union address provides an overview of the European Commission’s work over the previous year and sets out its major priorities and initiatives for the year ahead.