France welcomes the project of rapprochement between the EU and Canada
Benjamin Haddad considers the idea of deepening relations despite Donald Trump's threats "very good".
Quick Look
France has welcomed the European Commission's plan to make Canada an associate member of the EU, despite threats of trade retaliation from Donald Trump.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada the first associate member country of the EU, sparking opposition from Donald Trump.
France on Thursday welcomed the plan to deepen the relationship between the European Union and Canada, despite threats of reprisals launched by President Donald Trump. “It’s a very good idea to deepen relations with Canada,” declared Benjamin Haddad, minister responsible for Europe on Public Senate, while emphasizing that the question of the status of this association remains open.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed Wednesday that Canada could become the first "associate member" country of the EU. “It’s a very good idea to deepen relations with Canada,” said Benjamin Haddad on Public Senate. “We have a lot of things to do with Canada” which is politically aligned with the EU on several themes, declared the minister, but “I do not know what institutional form this should take”.
“Today we already have several institutions and several formats in which we can already deepen the relationship with Canada,” he said. Asked about the reaction of Donald Trump who threatened to cut off trade in retaliation for this project, he said that “it is not up to the United States to choose the political and geopolitical orientations of the Europeans”.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Discussion on the institutional form of the EU-Canada association
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What institutional form will this association take?
- What exact retaliatory measures will Donald Trump take?
