EU chief opens door for Canada to become 'associate member'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke at the EU's State of the Union code, noting that the bloc and Canada "see the satellite with the aforesaid eyes", including connected topics ranging from AI, to clime alteration and geopolitics. She stressed that the two sides have stood together on Ukraine, defence, earthy materials and proviso chains, adding that "And we person stood together: connected Ukraine, connected defence, connected earthy materials and connected proviso chains. But supra all...Europe and Canada judge successful democracy." Von der Leyen also pointed to energy, captious minerals, batteries, AI, cyber and economical security as additional areas of cooperation. The remark arrives as EU members have likewise been deed commercialized tariffs nether Trump's administration. She further proposed the enactment of a European Security Council that would see the UK and Ukraine amid an ongoing menace to the continent from Russia. "For a agelong time, we person discussed a leaders' format focused connected the information of our continent, with partners similar Canada, Norway, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and others involved," she said successful the wide-ranging address. '"This is adjacent much urgent now, fixed the quality and standard of the risks astatine play. This is wherefore we volition acceptable retired our ideas to marque a European Security Council a reality."'