This EU associate membership pitch is a fantasy dressed up as strategy, since the category doesn't even exist and would need all 27 member states to agree. France and Italy still haven't ratified the existing trade deal with Canada, and plenty of European capitals are too spooked by Trump's tariffs to sign on. Expect vague talk on minerals and defense, not real integration.
Canada's ties to Europe run deeper than trade deals — shared land, shared history and shared values bind them together. Becoming the EU's first associate member, plus joining Erasmus+ so young people can study across the Atlantic, builds real sovereignty and security for both sides. In a world run on coercion and tariff threats, standing together beats getting bullied alone.
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