Ursula von der Leyen has proposed opening the door for Canada to become the EU’s first ‘associate member’, although such a status does not currently exist. As Mark Carney listened, she called for closer cooperation in manufacturing, technology, artificial intelligence, defence, energy, critical minerals and economic security. Carney has advocated a ‘unique alliance’ with Europe, especially in view of the recent collapse of trade talks with the USA. Von der Leyen said that closer EU-Canada ties would strengthen both partners rather than target another country. Any new membership arrangement could take years to establish and would require agreement among EU governments. She also proposed creating a European security council involving partners including Britain, Canada, Norway and Ukraine, alongside continued cooperation with NATO. Her wider programme included measures addressing migration, children’s social media use, artificial intelligence, business regulation and Europe’s cost-of-living pressures.