Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, announced that Australia and New Zealand could join the European Union as associate members, similar to Canada. In an exclusive interview, Metsola described this status as a new pathway between full membership and candidate status, emphasizing the importance of strengthening relations with countries that share common views.
The Need for Friends in Uncertain Times
Metsola noted: "There are countries with which we want to deepen our relations. I have no doubt that this will include more countries, and others will also come knocking at our door... In such uncertain times, having friends is important." These remarks were made ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech on Thursday.
Read more: Friedrich Merz Cancels Trip to New York
The European Union has previously had trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand, which could serve as a starting point for closer cooperation. A similar relationship has also been proposed with Canada, which signed a comprehensive trade agreement with the European Union in 2016.
Details of Associate Membership
Regarding the technical details of associate membership, Metsola acknowledged that negotiations are still in the early stages. She pointed to deeper trade relations, access to critical raw materials, and common regulations in areas that like-minded countries care deeply about. Issues related to social media and child protection are among these areas.
On Wednesday, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, proposed associate membership for Canada in her annual speech. Prime Minister Carney is considering closer relations with the European Union amid a trade war with the United States, Canada's largest trading partner. Under pressure from Donald Trump, Ottawa is reassessing its position in the world, and Carney has publicly called for the creation of a union of "middle powers."
Following this announcement, Trump told reporters that if the membership proposal turned hostile, new tariffs might be imposed on the European Union. Washington and Brussels have a trade agreement under which the European Union faces a 15 percent tariff on goods.
Metsola downplayed the threats, stating that the European Union is reviewing its relations with these two countries separately. She clarified that the European Union is not working against anyone and acts as a supporter of rules-based cooperation. She also referred to the trade agreement that was signed last summer and ratified this year.
Separately, a spokesperson for the European Commission stated: "Strengthening our cooperation proposal is not against anyone, but is for our mutual strengthening." Carney is set to address the European Parliament on Thursday at 11:30 AM.
Read more: The European Parliament Faces Tension Over Immigration · Lynn Liu, an Australian Scientist, Proposes Innovative Solutions for Waste Recycling
