Muhammad Amanullah — September 15, 2026
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his government plans to begin discussions with the European Union on establishing a “unique partnership” between Canada and the 27-member bloc.
The development comes as trade and political tensions between Canada and the United States continue to grow, with Ottawa seeking to reduce its economic and foreign-policy dependence on Washington and strengthen relationships with other global partners.
Speaking in Toronto on Sunday during the Toronto International Film Festival, Carney made clear that Canada has no plans to join the European Union.
‘No Intention of Becoming a Member’
Mark Carney said Canada was not seeking EU membership. Instead, Ottawa and the European Union are looking to explore a relationship that could be described as a “unique partnership.”
According to Carney, Canada and the European Union share many of the same values and priorities, while both sides have capabilities that could complement each other.
Carney is scheduled to travel to Europe this week and will address the European Parliament on Thursday morning, where future relations between Canada and Europe are expected to be a major topic of discussion.
Talk of Becoming the 28th Member
Carney’s comments came after a Wall Street Journal report claimed that Canada was exploring the possibility of obtaining “associate member” status within the European Union.
The report also cited Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who had suggested that it might be better for Canada to become the EU’s 28th member rather than become the United States’ 51st state.
Following the report and Stubb’s comments, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre and other members of Parliament sought clarification from the government on social media, arguing that Canadians should be concerned about the idea of Canada becoming the EU’s “28th state.”
Full EU Membership Has Been Discussed
Although Canada has not formally applied for full membership in the European Union, the idea has been discussed in European political and media circles in recent months.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said at a European conference in March that Canada could perhaps become part of the European Union at some point. His comments were met with laughter and applause at the conference.
Carney, however, had already made clear that EU membership was not on Canada’s agenda. In June 2025, he said Canada wanted to strengthen and broaden its relationship with Europe, while exploring a different level of cooperation rather than becoming a member of the bloc.
What Does ‘Associate Member’ Mean?
The term “associate member” used in the Wall Street Journal report does not represent a formal legal status under European Union law.
A senior Canadian official said the government had examined different names and models for a future relationship with the European Union, including the idea of an “associate member,” but Canada had not formally presented the term to the EU.
The official said the government is still assessing what the future relationship between Canada and the EU could look like. More clarity is expected by the Canada-EU summit scheduled for late October.
Why Not the Norway or UK Model?
The Canadian government has also studied the EU’s relationships with countries outside the bloc, including Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Georgia.
According to the Canadian official, none of these models is completely suitable for Canada because Ottawa wants greater access to European markets without compromising its sovereignty or independence.
Economic and Defence Partnership
Canada and the European Union already have significant trade and political cooperation.
The two sides have the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), although its implementation has not yet been completed in full.
Canada and the EU also have a Strategic Partnership Agreement. In June 2025, the two sides further expanded their cooperation by establishing a partnership in the areas of security and defence.
On August 22, Carney said Canada and the European Union would discuss establishing a stronger and deeper partnership in the areas of security and the economy during the fall.
Searching for a ‘Unique’ Relationship
Prime Minister Carney and Geneviève Tuts, the European Union’s ambassador to Canada, have both used the word “unique” to describe the proposed relationship. However, relatively few details have so far emerged about how such an arrangement would work in practice.
The Canadian government is seeking a framework that could expand trade, investment, defence and security cooperation with Europe while allowing Canada to maintain its sovereignty.
The proposed “unique partnership” with the European Union has therefore become an increasingly important diplomatic and economic initiative for the Carney government at a time when uncertainty in Canada-US relations is growing and Ottawa is looking for new international partners.
