Canada becomes EU's first associate member

BRUSSELS, Sept 17: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday she wanted to open the door to Canada becoming the EU's first "associate member" in a push to forge new links among allies in "an openly hostile world".

European Union lawmakers gave a standing ovation after she made the proposal and then walked over to embrace Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was in the European Parliament to hear her annual State of the Union address.

New partnerships were needed "in the cold fragility of today’s world," von der Leyen told the assembly in Strasbourg, without detailing what associate membership would mean.�"REUTERS