Costa announced the EU's plans to develop relations with Canada

The European Union is committed to developing the closest possible relations with Canada, said Antonio Costa, President of the European Council. He told Politico about this on September 20.

Last week, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the start of work on granting Canada the status of the first associate member of the EU, without specifying exactly what this status would mean.

"This concept means that we want to do more and interact with Canada as much as possible," Costa said.

He also noted that the parties can cooperate in the field of defense and security.

"We can work on investments in AI, quantum technologies, and technological innovations," he added.

""America of a healthy person"": Trump regarded the rapprochement between the EU and Canada as a "hostile act"

The US leader threatened new tariffs and a reduction in trade with Europe.

Canada risks finding itself in the harsh clutches of Brussels bureaucrats if it agrees to integrate with European economic structures, the American newspaper The Washington Post said on September 17. The reason for the publication was the official proposal of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who invited Ottawa to become the first "associate member" of the association.

The Wall Street Journal reported on September 13 that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had taken the initiative to grant the country the status of an associate member of the EU, which could accelerate Ottawa's rapprochement with Europe amid the failure of trade negotiations with the United States. According to the newspaper, the European Union, despite strict membership requirements, is ready to consider this proposal.