WSJ: Carney aims to make Canada an ‘associate member of the EU’ following the rift with Trump

Canada is looking to Europe to reshape its economic and strategic future. According to an exclusive report in the Wall Street Journal, Prime Minister Mark Carney is reportedly exploring the possibility of securing ‘associate member’ status for Ottawa within the European Union, in a shift that comes against a backdrop of deteriorating relations with the United States and trade tensions linked to the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

The project, described by the US newspaper as “bold”, is said to have been received with openness by European counterparts. In recent months, Carney is said to have held confidential talks with numerous leaders across the continent – from France to Italia, and from Germany to the Scandinavian countries – to discuss deeper forms of integration between Canada and the European Union.

The aim would not be full membership of the EU or the single market, but the establishment of a privileged relationship that would enable Canada to integrate into Europe’s main value chains. Canadian and European officials are reportedly exploring forms of integration in the strategic sectors of energy, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, semiconductors and, above all, defence. In this scenario, Canadian goods, services and workers could benefit from greater freedom of movement across the Atlantic.

The proposals under consideration also include measures to facilitate the movement of Canadian citizens within Europe, the construction of new undersea telecommunications cables, and joint investments in data centres, cloud infrastructure and satellite networks that offer an alternative to those dominated by major US technology groups.

In the energy sector, Ottawa also aims to develop the infrastructure needed to export natural gas to Europe, thereby contributing to the continent’s efforts to reduce its dependence on Russian supplies. The project also involves greater integration between universities and research centres, with the ambition of creating a scientific ecosystem capable of competing with that of the US. Among the ideas supported by Carney is Canada’s participation in the Erasmus programme.