The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, said today that Europe is becoming increasingly attractive to third countries, which not only want to join the bloc but also to cooperate, by setting the example of Canada.
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17/09/2026
by
Lusa
“Europe has never been as attractive as it is today,” the Commissioner said during a visit to Oslo.
“ When I am talking about attractiveness, I am not just talking about becoming a member of the Union. I am referring to the desire to work more closely with us or to explore other forms of cooperation that we have not yet considered, as Canada has said.
Marta Kos answered a question about a possible loss of attractiveness of the EU after Iceland’s rejection at the end of August of a resumption of accession negotiations.
Admitting that she regrets Iceland's decision, the European Commissioner for Enlargement stressed the approach to Canada, which became on Wednesday in the first country to be formally proposed as an “associated member” of the European Union.
In the midst of an increasingly tense relationship with the United States, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, advanced with the intention of the proposal during her speech on the State of the Union, made in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France.
In her speech, attended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the leader of the Community executive also proposed that Canada join a European Security Council, which was also proposed on Wednesday.
Mark Carney is addressing MEPs today to defend the rapprochement of his country with the European Union, at a time marked by a trade and diplomatic war with the neighbouring United States.
The deepening of the relationship between Ottawa and Brussels takes place in the middle of a trade war with the US President, Donald Trump, the aim is to reach an agreement that allows Canadians to live and work in Europe without visas.
In return, Canada wants to invest in Europe and try to circumvent trade dependence on the United States, where around 70% of its exports are destined.
Mark Carney pushed away any EU membership objective by saying that Canada instead wants “a single alliance” with the bloc.
Canada and the EU already cooperate on trade, defence, energy, technology and critical minerals.