Strasbourg, France, 16 September 2026 (dpa/MIA) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Canada should become the first "associate member" of the European Union, a status that currently does not exist.

In a speech delivered on Wednesday to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, von der Leyen detailed her ideas on how to deepen ties with Ottawa.

The EU and Canada are to form an alliance "to create a common prosperity and economic security space," she said.

The new alliance is to cover the areas of manufacturing, tech and artificial intelligence, defence industries, engagement in the Arctic region, energy and critical minerals, von der Leyen said.

Von der Leyen stressed similarities between the EU and Canada in her speech attended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is due to address the European Parliament himself on Thursday.

"Europe and Canada believe in democracy, that power does not belong to the strongest, richest or loudest, but to all of us ... Democracies have the freedom to choose with whom to work," the commission chief said.

"I said we must urgently reimagine our partnerships. So, I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to being the first associate member of the EU," she said.

Von der Leyen's remarks were met with standing ovations from many EU lawmakers. 

Carney said in Canada earlier this week that his country wanted to build a "unique alliance" with the European Union. 

However, associate membership to the EU currently does not exist under EU treaties.

Carney has aimed to deepen ties with the EU, Canada's second-largest trading partner, since trade relations with the US, Ottawa's largest economic partner, have become severely strained under US President Donald Trump.

Photo: epa