Von der Leyen wants to deepen cooperation with Canada in AI and energy

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed the EU's desire to elevate its relationship with Canada to a near-membership partnership. She emphasized collaboration in artificial intelligence, climate, energy, and security during her speech in Montreal. The term "associate member" for Canada has sparked controversy among EU member states, particularly Germany, which led a group opposing the concept due to its lack of legal basis. Von der Leyen highlighted Canada's reliability as a partner amid economic pressures from the US and China, as Canada seeks to reduce its dependence on the US. This initiative coincides with tensions in US-Canada trade relations, especially under President Trump's administration.