Carney reportedly pushes for “associate membership” with European Union
by Clayton DeMaine
Prime Minister Mark Carney has reportedly been pushing European leaders in private conversations and meetings to allow Canada to join the European Union as an unprecedented “associate member.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney has been pushing for more than just deeper ties and improved trade deals with the European Union, as reports from the Wall Street Journal claim he and his government have been pushing for pseudo-membership with the multinational political and economic union.
According to the Wall Street Journal, officials in both the European Union’s (EU) member states and Canada suggest that the EU is open to allowing Canada to join the EU, a move that Carney has reportedly been pushing on world leaders behind the scenes.
The Prime Minister’s Office, Global Affairs Canada, and Canada’s International Trade Minister, Maninder Sidhu, did not immediately respond to Juno News’ requests for comment or confirmation; however, Sidhu’s press secretary told Juno he would provide further information at a later time.
According to the Wall Street Journal report, two “officials familiar with discussions” between Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron said the two leaders discussed allowing Canadians to live and work in Europe visa-free. He has reportedly also been seeking opportunities for Canadians to join the EU’s study abroad program, allowing members of the EU and Canada to study in each other’s nations.
The report also noted that Canada-Europe conversations have included laying underwater cables linking Canada and Europe, jointly constructing AI data centres and establishing other digital networks taking interconnectivity beyond “the reach of American tech giants.”
Some European “senior officials” have also expressed skepticism about Carney’s ambitions, according to the Wall Street Journal, with some officials noting that trade agreements between the EU and Canada have yet to be ratified even 10 years after the agreements were reached, due to holdout nations within the union.
This is a developing story and will be updated with further comment from federal officials.