Von der Leyen Makes Canada the EU's First Associate Member
The accompanying Alliance for the Future spans manufacturing, defense, energy and the Arctic, a partnership she called strength, aimed at no one.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's 2026 State of the Union address, SPEECH_26_1868, delivered September 16, named Canada the EU's first-ever associate member.
- "I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU."
- Alliance for the Future spans manufacturing, defense integration, energy, critical minerals and the Arctic.
Why it matters: An associate membership with no treaty definition is whatever the Commission decides it is.
Ursula von der Leyen, 2026 State of the Union address (European Commission/EEAS) ↗ · Sep 16, 20269/16/26 · Updated Sep 16