Carney Embraces EU Associate Membership Proposal

STRASBOURG, France (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has embraced the prospect of his country becoming the European Union’s first associate member. He said Thursday that closer ties with the continent would ensure no country could control Canada’s markets or undermine its sovereignty. Carney’s speech to the European Parliament repeatedly extolled cooperation between Europe and Canada, but the relationship with the U.S. hung over the address. Trump’s tariffs, demands for economic concessions and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st state have pushed Ottawa to reduce its dependence on its neighbor and seek a far deeper economic, security and political relationship with Europe. Carney told the parliament that he welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal.