Canada weighs EU associate status plan
Canada welcomes EU proposal to become 'associate member'
Friday, 18 September 2026
Warm-up
- What comes to mind when you hear European Union?
- How do trade disputes affect people in your country?
- Which regions does your country cooperate with most, and why?
Vocabulary
- associate
- Connected to a group without being a full member
- membership
- The state of belonging to an organisation or group
- tariffs
- Taxes charged on goods imported or exported
- sovereignty
- A country’s right to govern itself independently
- bloc
- A group of countries acting together for shared aims
- dispute
- A serious disagreement or conflict between sides
- framework
- A basic structure that guides an agreement or system
- autonomy
- The ability to make decisions without outside control
Reading
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed an EU proposal for Canada to become its first associate member, telling the European Parliament in Strasbourg that Canada and Europe are "stronger together". The status does not yet exist, and any new membership model would need agreement from all 27 EU states. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen proposed "opening the door" to this plan.
Carney said the alliance could focus on defence, technology, energy security and critical minerals. He argued it would support sovereignty and strategic autonomy, while insisting it was not about forming a new power bloc or seeking full EU membership, but a different framework.
The move comes as Canada and the US are in an escalating trade dispute, with each side imposing tit-for-tat tariffs after talks collapsed last month. US President Donald Trump called the idea "laughable" and threatened very serious tariffs on Europe if he viewed it as hostile. Carney said the plan could be a "beacon for other democracies".
Comprehension
- Who suggested opening the door to Canada’s associate membership?
- Where did Mark Carney deliver his remarks to lawmakers?
- What warning did the US president give about the proposal?
- Which areas of cooperation did Carney highlight?
- Is Canada seeking full EU membership according to Carney?
Grammar focus
Past perfect continuous
Use had + been + verb-ing to show an action that was continuing up to a past time (duration before another past event). (Examples constructed.)
- Officials **had been discussing** membership details before the summit.
- An analyst **had been warning** of escalating tariffs for weeks.
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence using the past perfect continuous (had been + verb-ing).
- By then, delegates (negotiate) ___ for several weeks.
- An analyst (study) ___ trade ties for months before the proposal.
- By then, ministers (focus) ___ on energy security for weeks.
- Before talks collapsed, teams (prepare) ___ response plans for days.
- By then, negotiators (seek) ___ clarity about associate status for months.
Discussion
- What benefits and risks could Canada see from closer EU ties?
- Should regions create new membership models, or keep current ones?
- How do tariffs change companies’ and consumers’ choices?
- Is sovereignty easier to protect alone or with allies? Why?
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