EU's von der Leyen wants Canada to become bloc's first associate member

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

62% : So, ⁠I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU," von der Leyen said.
57% : European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday she wanted to open the door to Canada becoming the EU's first "associate member" in a push to forge new links among allies in "an openly hostile world".
56% : The EU and Canada "see the world with the same eyes: from AI to climate change, from the Arctic to geopolitics.
55% : " Ahead of von der Leyen's speech, seven EU diplomats in Canada ⁠and Europe had told Reuters there were active efforts toward deeper collaboration on trade, defense and digital security, but no specific plan for a more comprehensive Canadian-EU relationship had been discussed at a high level.
55% : " Ahead of von der Leyen's speech, seven EU diplomats in Canada ⁠and Europe had told Reuters there were active efforts toward deeper collaboration on trade, defense and digital security, but no specific plan for a more comprehensive Canadian-EU relationship had been discussed at a high level.
54% : EU members were lukewarm in reacting to Germany's proposal in May of associate membership for Ukraine as a stepping stone to full accession.
54% : EU members were lukewarm in reacting to Germany's proposal in May of associate membership for Ukraine as a stepping stone to full accession.
52% : EU lawmakers gave a standing ovation after she made the proposal and then walked over to embrace Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was in the European Parliament to hear her annual State of the Union address.
50% : It will be up to EU member states, and not von der Leyen alone, whether her proposal goes ahead.
50% : It will be up to EU member states, and not von der Leyen alone, whether her proposal goes ahead.
42% : The EU has historically resisted such types of flexible alliances that have no legal status.
42% : The EU has historically resisted such types of flexible alliances that have no legal status.
41% : One EU diplomat expressed surprise at von der Leyen's proposal, saying "nobody really knows what it means".
41% : One EU diplomat expressed surprise at von der Leyen's proposal, saying "nobody really knows what it means".
24% : Both the EU and Canada have also been facing stiff rivalry on trade and other issues from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and from an increasingly assertive China.

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