The European Commission has proposed granting Canada "associate member" status in the European Union, according to sankei.com. The commission president voiced support for the plan during a policy speech to the European Parliament, the report says. If it moves forward, Canada would become the first country to hold that position.
The proposal comes as Canada's relationship with the Trump administration has worsened, sankei.com reports, pushing Ottawa and Brussels toward closer alignment. Japanese business daily Nikkei described the shift as a rapid move toward a "middle power alliance," while noting that associate membership carries significant hurdles. TBS NEWS DIG likewise framed the plan as an effort to unite middle powers, and the BBC reported that the commission president backed Canada's entry plan in her address to lawmakers.
The idea has drawn caution as well as support. According to Yahoo! News, citing Bloomberg, U.S. President Donald Trump has said he could impose additional tariffs on the EU if Canada's associate status is deemed hostile. That reaction underlines how the proposal could carry costs beyond Europe and Canada.
What to watch next is whether EU member states take up the commission's proposal and how Washington responds if the plan advances.