Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, announced the start of the process to make Canada the first associate member of the European Union during her annual speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. This position will be newly designed and responds to Canada's search for closer ties with the European Union.
Responding to Global Challenges
Von der Leyen's remarks came as Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, was present at the meeting. Carney had referred to the possibility of "associate membership" with the European Union a few days prior. Von der Leyen emphasized that "partnerships are a strategic choice for Europe" and highlighted the need for closer cooperation in a challenging and competitive world.
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She stated, "We see the world with one eye: from artificial intelligence to climate change, from the Arctic to geopolitics. And we stand together: on Ukraine, defense, raw materials, and supply chains. But most importantly ... Europe and Canada believe in democracy."
Domestic and Global Challenges
Von der Leyen referred to the challenging situation Europe is in and called for the establishment of a strong and independent union in the face of a "clearly hostile" world. She said, "A territorial war is happening on our continent, and other wars have also begun near us. These wars have led to industrial competition and battles of narratives that undermine trust in Europe."
She also emphasized the need to maintain Europe's independence in various sectors, including energy and raw materials. Von der Leyen announced that the European Union still has an 80 percent dependency on China for many critical raw materials and added, "We need to urgently secure and stockpile our supplies. No country can do this alone; therefore, we must think differently."
A Future Dependent on Managing Challenges
The President of the European Commission also emphasized that the future of the European Union depends on how climate change and artificial intelligence are managed. She promised that a new program to address the heat wave and efforts to advance the development of artificial intelligence in Europe would be presented.
Von der Leyen further proposed new restrictions on access for children under 13 to social networks. As a mother of seven children, she stressed the importance of protecting children from the negative impacts of big technologies.
This speech, presented as a comprehensive report on the state of the European Union and its challenges, reflects Europe's determination to establish closer relations with Canada and other countries in order to face global challenges.
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