No need for that. Even the question is a petitio principii: it's not the "EU" that wants something like "associate members", but specifically only #vonDerLeyen and German chancellor #FriedrichMerz.
Others are just alienated by their attempt at going it alone.
Ironically, like many others euronews has reported on this issue, as well:
»The status announced by von der Leyen during the State of the Union is an entirely new one, with details yet to be made clear. The European Commission’s President also proposed a new alliance with Ottawa covering tech, critical raw materials, energy and defence.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that Canada has been invited to become the first “associate member” of the EU.«
She does not even have a mandate for extending such an "invitation", let alone for introducing any kind of "EU Membership light™" on her own. It's just one of her usual attempts at agenda setting.
https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/16/canada-to-become-first-associate-member-of-the-eu
katzenberger
npub1c2…jdrdw
2026-09-28 12:10:21 UTC
in reply to nevent1q…xv8u
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npub1c28txn7vsxzrrjr34sgwskrv3mcnya2srx8jn02va2hzlkteq0lswjdrdwSeen on
wss://relay.momostr.pinkPublished at
2026-09-28 12:10:21 UTCEvent JSON
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"content": "No need for that. Even the question is a petitio principii: it's not the \"EU\" that wants something like \"associate members\", but specifically only #vonDerLeyen and German chancellor #FriedrichMerz.\n\nOthers are just alienated by their attempt at going it alone.\n\nIronically, like many others euronews has reported on this issue, as well:\n\n»The status announced by von der Leyen during the State of the Union is an entirely new one, with details yet to be made clear. The European Commission’s President also proposed a new alliance with Ottawa covering tech, critical raw materials, energy and defence.\n\nEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that Canada has been invited to become the first “associate member” of the EU.«\n\nShe does not even have a mandate for extending such an \"invitation\", let alone for introducing any kind of \"EU Membership light™\" on her own. It's just one of her usual attempts at agenda setting.\n\nhttps://www.euronews.com/2026/09/16/canada-to-become-first-associate-member-of-the-eu",
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