Archive · 21 Sep 2026
France Backs Closer Canada-EU Ties and Associate Membership
France and Canada want to work more closely with the European Union.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France supports this plan.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada and Europe could form an "Alliance for the Future."
The proposed partnership could cover trade, technology, defence, energy and artificial intelligence.
France and Canada also discussed fisheries, security and the Arctic.
They talked about the war in Ukraine, the Middle East and energy supplies.
Ursula von der Leyen suggested that Canada could become the EU's first associate member.
US President Donald Trump said this idea might be hostile and threatened heavy tariffs on Europe.
Emmanuel Macron said France supports closer relations between Canada and the European Union.
Macron backed the possibility of Canada becoming an associate member of the EU.
Canada and France agreed to strengthen cooperation on fisheries, security and energy.
Mark Carney proposed an "Alliance for the Future" to improve collective resilience with Europe.
Donald Trump called possible Canadian EU associate membership potentially hostile and threatened heavy tariffs on Europe.
- Who
- French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump.
- What
- France endorsed closer Canada-EU relations and the possibility of Canada becoming an associate member of the European Union.
- When
- Macron and Carney discussed the proposal on Sunday local time; von der Leyen proposed it on Wednesday local time.
- Where
- At a joint press conference in Saint-Pierre, the capital of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.
- Why
- The proposed partnership aims to strengthen cooperation and collective resilience in areas including trade, technology, defence, energy, security and the Arctic.
Supporters of closer Canada-EU ties
United States opposition
Canadian associate membership
Supporters of closer Canada-EU ties
Emmanuel Macron, Mark Carney and Ursula von der Leyen supported exploring closer Canada-EU relations, including possible Canadian associate membership.
United States opposition
Donald Trump said Canada becoming an associate member of the European Union could be considered a hostile act and threatened heavy tariffs on Europe.
- Location
- Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, a French overseas territory about 20 km from Canada's Newfoundland.
- Proposed status
- Canada could become the European Union's first associate member.
- Existing framework
- The proposed upgrade would build on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA.
- Potential cooperation areas
- Manufacturing, technology, defence, the Arctic, energy, critical minerals and artificial intelligence.
- Bilateral cooperation
- France and Canada said they would strengthen cooperation in fisheries, security and energy.
- Geopolitical discussions
- The leaders discussed Ukraine, European and transatlantic security, the Middle East and the Arctic.
- United States reaction
- Donald Trump said Canadian associate membership could be a hostile act and threatened heavy tariffs on Europe.