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Update: EU Considers Canada for First Associate Membership, von der Leyen Says

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(Updates with Carney comments in 5th and 6th paragraphs.)

The European Union is opening the door for Canada to become its first "associate member," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday, as the two sides seek closer ties amid worsening relations with the United States.

The EU and Canada would strengthen their ties in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, critical minerals and energy, as well as a broader technology alliance, closer defense-industrial ties and joint Arctic projects, said von der Leyen in her annual State of the EU address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

"I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU," she said in her parliamentary address, attended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

"We want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible," said von der Leyen in Wednesday's speech at the European Parliament.

After the speech, Carney met with von der Leyen in Strasbourg, according to a press release issued by the prime minister's communications office.

Carney "welcomed the President's proposal for Canada and the EU to move beyond the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) to a far stronger, more ambitious alliance in the future," said the prime minister's press release.

On Tuesday, Carney said Canada was working on a "unique" alliance with the EU. Canada is seeking to attract CA$1 trillion in investments over the next five years as it aims to reduce its reliance on the US for its trade amid increasingly strained relations with President Donald Trump.

EC President von der Leyen was explicit on Wednesday that the initiative wasn't aimed at countering the US.

"This is a partnership not against anyone else," added von der Leyen.

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