Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is pursuing closer ties with the European Union as Canada seeks to reduce its reliance on the United States, despite President Donald Trump calling the proposed EU associate-member status laughable. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada the EU’s first associate member, but the status has no precedent or legal definition under EU treaties, which limit accession to European states. Carney has described the objective as a unique alliance rather than full EU membership. A Canadian poll in April found that 58% of respondents believed EU membership was worth exploring, while 25% said joining would be a good idea. Prediction-market trading nevertheless places low probabilities on full membership or a formal application by 2027, with limited volume underscoring the uncertainty of those estimates. Canadian and EU officials are expected to discuss the broader proposal at a Montreal summit in late October, with defense, energy, critical minerals and artificial intelligence among the potential areas of cooperation.