{"id":2153881,"date":"2026-09-20T10:06:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T07:06:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2153881"},"modified":"2026-09-20T10:06:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T07:06:05","slug":"newsletter-carney-is-right-on-eu-associate-membership-the-name-is-irrelevant-the-politics-arent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2153881","title":{"rendered":"Newsletter: Carney is right on EU associate membership \u2014 the name is irrelevant, the politics aren\u2019t"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/03\/07\/1200x675_cmsv2_8bfb0390-527d-5d0c-b2e9-1d293db2b860-9920307.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2927165-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927165\" data-cid=\"9920272\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927165-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/72\/189x106_cmsv2_9f389790-f7dc-5f0d-bfce-4e6ae344d77b-9920272.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A man casts his ballots for the Berlin state election in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Germans go to the polls in state elections as pressure mounts on Merz\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927164-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927164\" data-cid=\"9920271\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927164-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/71\/189x106_cmsv2_60bd47a4-de1d-5ebe-80c8-2b9e3031de0b-9920271.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People walk in Red Square cloudy weather in Moscow, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Moscow hit by &#8216;largest-scale attack&#8217; on capital so far, mayor says\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927179-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927179\" data-cid=\"9920359\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927179-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/03\/59\/189x106_cmsv2_1067a450-b036-55e6-817a-44425934f7f5-9920359.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Latest news bulletin | September 20th, 2026 \u2013 Midday\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Top News Stories Today<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Latest news bulletin | September 20th, 2026 \u2013 Midday\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927163-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927163\" data-cid=\"9920246\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927163-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/46\/189x106_cmsv2_6c3d2cdb-3d4b-5e04-a9f8-2a0b95353207-9920246.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President of France Emmanuel Macron, right, gives a thumbs up as he shakes hands with Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney after delivering a joint statement at the Palais de l&apos;E\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Macron touts relationship with Canada in Saint Pierre and Miquelon\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927165-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927165\" data-cid=\"9920272\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927165-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/72\/189x106_cmsv2_9f389790-f7dc-5f0d-bfce-4e6ae344d77b-9920272.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A man casts his ballots for the Berlin state election in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Germans go to the polls in state elections as pressure mounts on Merz\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927164-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927164\" data-cid=\"9920271\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927164-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/71\/189x106_cmsv2_60bd47a4-de1d-5ebe-80c8-2b9e3031de0b-9920271.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People walk in Red Square cloudy weather in Moscow, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Moscow hit by &#8216;largest-scale attack&#8217; on capital so far, mayor says\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927179-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927179\" data-cid=\"9920359\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927179-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/03\/59\/189x106_cmsv2_1067a450-b036-55e6-817a-44425934f7f5-9920359.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Latest news bulletin | September 20th, 2026 \u2013 Midday\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Top News Stories Today<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Latest news bulletin | September 20th, 2026 \u2013 Midday\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927163-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927163\" data-cid=\"9920246\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927163-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/46\/189x106_cmsv2_6c3d2cdb-3d4b-5e04-a9f8-2a0b95353207-9920246.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President of France Emmanuel Macron, right, gives a thumbs up as he shakes hands with Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney after delivering a joint statement at the Palais de l&apos;E\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Macron touts relationship with Canada in Saint Pierre and Miquelon\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe Today<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Newsletter: Carney is right on EU associate membership \u2014 the name is irrelevant, the politics aren\u2019t<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/03\/07\/1536x864_cmsv2_8bfb0390-527d-5d0c-b2e9-1d293db2b860-9920307.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France \"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France <\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspMaria Tadeo\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1789898765\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-09-20 12:06:05 +02:00\">20\/09\/2026 &#8211; 12:06 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__header u-display-flex\"><span>Share<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" 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class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Each week, Euronews\u2019 chief Europe editor Maria Tadeo debriefs the ins and outs of continental politics. This week, reporting from Strasbourg, she examines the EU\u2019s pitch for associate membership for Canada.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Welcome back to this newsletter, written en route from Strasbourg to Brussels, after a week of parliamentary coverage. In case you missed it, Mark Carney stole the show and Canada is our new associate BFF, whatever that means.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It&#8217;s easy to be cynical about the Canadian Prime Minister, but anyone who makes an intellectual effort citing Goethe on a Thursday morning gets my attention amid the sea of poor orators that populate the annual State of the Union (the EU&#8217;s, to be clear).<\/p>\n<p>Carney chose his references deliberately, reaching for <em>Faust<\/em> right off the bat. One can only hope the MEPs \u2014 including the gentleman who shouted &#8220;USA! USA!&#8221; as he took the stand \u2014 appreciated the reference. Goethe argued that freedom is neither a condition nor a possession: it must be conquered. Nor can it be taken for granted, as freedom is as fragile as it is precious.<\/p>\n<p>Carney evoked that spirit from the get-go of his six-page address, taking the hemicycle on a journey through the forest of Ettersberg. <em>Nur der verdient sich Freiheit wie das Leben, der t\u00e4glich sie erobern mu\u00df<\/em> (Only those who strive for freedom every day are deserving of it). Canada and the EU share that spirit, he told the European Parliament \u2014 and both are being tested on their ability to forge their own paths.<\/p>\n<p>His pitch? A new alliance between two sovereign blocs that looks beyond zero-sum geopolitics and builds on their complementary strengths and dependencies. A single tree, he said, can fall in a storm; a forest will not. For Europe, as for Canada, the storm has three names: Trump, Xi, Putin.<\/p>\n<p>Still, lumping them together would be intellectually lazy. The US doesn&#8217;t threaten Europe&#8217;s security architecture the way Russia does \u2014 NATO is still largely bankrolled by American taxpayers. Nor is China&#8217;s economic predation on the European industry the result of Trump&#8217;s economic agenda. <\/p>\n<p>But together, they have upended the status quo on both sides of the Atlantic and left Europeans feeling defeated, orphaned from a political offer that stands up to bullies. Carney is now their patron saint and newfound maple hero. <\/p>\n<p>You could say this is simply a rerun of speeches we&#8217;ve heard before. <\/p>\n<p>Carney himself said as much in Davos at the start of the year, calling for an alliance of middle powers to stabilise a world increasingly governed by brute force. In 2023, cameras caught China&#8217;s Xi telling Putin that the world was witnessing changes not seen in a century. He was right. The question is whether nations can still decide their own paths, seal their own alliances, and resist the pull of the tide.<\/p>\n<p>Carney is playing politics \u2014 that&#8217;s true. He owes his political success to Donald Trump: going elbows-up on the US, walking away from lopsided trade talks, and putting sovereignty above all else has resonated with Canadians \u2014 a country whose sole raison d&#8217;\u00eatre is not being America. <\/p>\n<p>Carney, a product of the establishment and elite education, would never have been elected had it not been for Trump&#8217;s provocations, and yet he is now the most popular Canadian PM; every dust-up adds points. <\/p>\n<p>His political calculus is very different to that of the EU, which desperately sought to cool down tensions and had the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, inking a deal on American terms. And that stings. Large swathes of the European electorate are hungry for political courage \u2014 courage von der Leyen lacks, and would struggle to project even if she had it, since doing politics has never been her strength. In Carney, Europeans see an alternative.<\/p>\n<p>Von der Leyen has amassed enormous power. She could have been a transformative Commission President; instead, she plays it safe. Let&#8217;s be honest: Carney saved her State of the Union address \u2014 without him, she would have had little new to say. Too afraid to raise the question of joint debt and European financing, her &#8220;independence&#8221; moment comes without financial muscle. <\/p>\n<p>Mario Draghi put a number on the cost of an independent Europe: \u20ac800 billion a year. You cannot implement the Draghi report without addressing the elephant in the room \u2014 but she won&#8217;t touch it. You can argue her institutional neutrality doesn&#8217;t allow for it, but her peer Christine Lagarde has no problem saying Europe should at least debate joint borrowing. <\/p>\n<p>Plenty can be said about the tribulations and hurdles ahead for a transatlantic partnership meant to deepen trade, cultural, political and educational ties. <\/p>\n<p>CETA is proof enough: the Canada-EU trade deal, still unratified in countries like France, was painful to negotiate and remains unpopular in sectors like agriculture (and farmers are untouchable in Europe). <\/p>\n<p>Most MEPs we spoke to on the floor told us they didn&#8217;t quite understand what an associate member would look like, but welcomed the move. The head of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, went a step further, telling Euronews in an exclusive interview that Canada could pave the way for other countries &#8220;with so much in common,&#8221; like New Zealand and Australia. My colleague Vincenzo Genovese overheard a group of Renew MEPs debating the interview over lunch \u2014 that&#8217;s zeitgeist for you.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s tempting to write this pairing off as bluff \u2014 I mean, they can\u2019t even agree on a name: an alliance for the future, or associate membership? But dismiss it at your peril, because Carney is right: at this point, the nomenclature is irrelevant.<\/p>\n<p>What matters is the political signal, and it&#8217;s not a futile one \u2014 just ask the US president, who has already threatened tariffs if the two turn hostile to American interests. As you know, in MAGA world, you either align or you get punished. And yes, the US already has a deal in place with the EU which cut tariffs on American products.<\/p>\n<p>Before I go, I want to thank our team of reporters, correspondents, producers and cameramen for two marathon days in which Euronews brought you 16 interviews, an exclusive sit-down with the Parliament&#8217;s President, the Commissioners that mattered on the day, and non-stop coverage. It&#8217;s long hours and it&#8217;s not easy. I had cold chicken nuggets for dinner each night, and believe me, you don&#8217;t want that. <\/p>\n<p>But we take pride in what we do, and Euronews is Europe&#8217;s newsroom \u2014 time to consider an antenna in Ottawa.<\/p>\n<p><em>Thank you for reading<\/em><strong><em>Off The Record<\/em><\/strong><em>make sure to subscribe<\/em><em>here.<\/em><em>Before you go,<\/em><strong><em>Europe Today<\/em><\/strong><em>, Euronews&#8217; flagship morning show, is live weekdays at 8am CET.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  What we know (and still don&#8217;t) about Canada&#8217;s &#8216;associate membership&#8217;<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Canadians react to EU&#8217;s \u2018associate member\u2019 proposal<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  State of the Union: Five takeaways from Ursula von der Leyen&#8217;s speech<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Mark Carney<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Donald Trump<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Canada<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  European Union<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Ursula von der Leyen<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__header\"><span class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__title\">Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2927164-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927164\" data-cid=\"9920271\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927164-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/71\/320x180_cmsv2_60bd47a4-de1d-5ebe-80c8-2b9e3031de0b-9920271.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People walk in Red Square cloudy weather in Moscow, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Moscow hit by &#8216;largest-scale attack&#8217; on capital so far, mayor says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2927163-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927163\" data-cid=\"9920246\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927163-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/46\/320x180_cmsv2_6c3d2cdb-3d4b-5e04-a9f8-2a0b95353207-9920246.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President of France Emmanuel Macron, right, gives a thumbs up as he shakes hands with Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney after delivering a joint statement at the Palais de l&apos;E\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Macron touts relationship with Canada in Saint Pierre and Miquelon<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2927165-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927165\" data-cid=\"9920272\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927165-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/72\/320x180_cmsv2_9f389790-f7dc-5f0d-bfce-4e6ae344d77b-9920272.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A man casts his ballots for the Berlin state election in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Germans go to the polls in state elections as pressure mounts on Merz<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2927125-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927125\" data-cid=\"9920156\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927125-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/01\/56\/320x180_cmsv2_cf272d61-7151-5608-bc03-a2bd25388e23-9920156.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Supporters of Yemen\u2019s Houthi rebels raise Yemeni, Lebanese and Iranian flags during a rally in support of the group.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US embassies issue security alerts over Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2927146-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927146\" data-cid=\"9920202\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927146-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/02\/320x180_cmsv2_5a655a13-32ad-5888-b5b3-533e00373fcd-9920202.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"US President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the Ellipse near the White House, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    CNN, MS NOW, POLITICO journalists denied access to the White House<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2926053-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926053\" data-cid=\"9918900\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Russians leave before election ends, fearing mobilisation to follow<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2927010-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927010\" data-cid=\"9919877\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Thousands of migrants return to beaches in Ceuta as port camp fills up<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2926804-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926804\" data-cid=\"9918869\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU fuel prices hit records; ECB experts say diesel margins yet to peak<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2926226-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926226\" data-cid=\"9919770\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Berlin election finale: who is to emerge strongest in the capital?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2926888-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926888\" data-cid=\"9919750\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    A ticking &#8216;mercury bomb&#8217;? Ancient Nazi U-boat lies off Norway<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-3\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927164-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927164\" data-cid=\"9920271\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927164-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/71\/320x180_cmsv2_60bd47a4-de1d-5ebe-80c8-2b9e3031de0b-9920271.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People walk in Red Square cloudy weather in Moscow, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Moscow hit by &#8216;largest-scale attack&#8217; on capital so far, mayor says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927163-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927163\" data-cid=\"9920246\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927163-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/46\/320x180_cmsv2_6c3d2cdb-3d4b-5e04-a9f8-2a0b95353207-9920246.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President of France Emmanuel Macron, right, gives a thumbs up as he shakes hands with Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney after delivering a joint statement at the Palais de l&apos;E\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Macron touts relationship with Canada in Saint Pierre and Miquelon<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927165-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927165\" data-cid=\"9920272\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927165-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/72\/320x180_cmsv2_9f389790-f7dc-5f0d-bfce-4e6ae344d77b-9920272.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A man casts his ballots for the Berlin state election in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Germans go to the polls in state elections as pressure mounts on Merz<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927125-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927125\" data-cid=\"9920156\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927125-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/01\/56\/320x180_cmsv2_cf272d61-7151-5608-bc03-a2bd25388e23-9920156.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Supporters of Yemen\u2019s Houthi rebels raise Yemeni, Lebanese and Iranian flags during a rally in support of the group.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US embassies issue security alerts over Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927146-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927146\" data-cid=\"9920202\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927146-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/02\/320x180_cmsv2_5a655a13-32ad-5888-b5b3-533e00373fcd-9920202.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"US President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the Ellipse near the White House, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    CNN, MS NOW, POLITICO journalists denied access to the White House<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926053-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926053\" data-cid=\"9918900\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Russians leave before election ends, fearing mobilisation to follow<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927010-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927010\" data-cid=\"9919877\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Thousands of migrants return to beaches in Ceuta as port camp fills up<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926804-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926804\" data-cid=\"9918869\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU fuel prices hit records; ECB experts say diesel margins yet to peak<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926226-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926226\" data-cid=\"9919770\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Berlin election finale: who is to emerge strongest in the capital?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926888-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926888\" data-cid=\"9919750\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    A ticking &#8216;mercury bomb&#8217;? Ancient Nazi U-boat lies off Norway<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Welcome back to this newsletter, written en route from Strasbourg to Brussels, after a week of parliamentary coverage. In case you missed it, Mark Carney stole the show and Canada is our new associate BFF, whatever that means.It&#8217;s easy to be cynical about the Canadian Prime Minister, but anyone who makes an intellectual effort citing Goethe on a Thursday morning gets my attention amid the sea of poor orators that populate the annual State of the Union (the EU&#8217;s, to be clear).Carney chose his references deliberately, reaching for Faust right off the bat. One can only hope the MEPs \u2014 including the gentleman who shouted &#8220;USA! USA!&#8221; as he took the stand \u2014 appreciated the reference. Goethe argued that freedom is neither a condition nor a possession: it must be conquered. Nor can it be taken for granted, as freedom is as fragile as it is precious.Carney evoked that spirit from the get-go of his six-page address, taking the hemicycle on a journey through the forest of Ettersberg. Nur der verdient sich Freiheit wie das Leben, der t\u00e4glich sie erobern mu\u00df (Only those who strive for freedom every day are deserving of it). Canada and the EU share that spirit, he told the European Parliament \u2014 and both are being tested on their ability to forge their own paths.His pitch? A new alliance between two sovereign blocs that looks beyond zero-sum geopolitics and builds on their complementary strengths and dependencies. A single tree, he said, can fall in a storm; a forest will not. For Europe, as for Canada, the storm has three names: Trump, Xi, Putin.Still, lumping them together would be intellectually lazy. The US doesn&#8217;t threaten Europe&#8217;s security architecture the way Russia does \u2014 NATO is still largely bankrolled by American taxpayers. Nor is China&#8217;s economic predation on the European industry the result of Trump&#8217;s economic agenda.But together, they have upended the status quo on both sides of the Atlantic and left Europeans feeling defeated, orphaned from a political offer that stands up to bullies. Carney is now their patron saint and newfound maple hero.\u00a0You could say this is simply a rerun of speeches we&#8217;ve heard before.Carney himself said as much in Davos at the start of the year, calling for an alliance of middle powers to stabilise a world increasingly governed by brute force. In 2023, cameras caught China&#8217;s Xi telling Putin that the world was witnessing changes not seen in a century. He was right. The question is whether nations can still decide their own paths, seal their own alliances, and resist the pull of the tide.Carney is playing politics \u2014 that&#8217;s true. He owes his political success to Donald Trump: going elbows-up on the US, walking away from lopsided trade talks, and putting sovereignty above all else has resonated with Canadians \u2014 a country whose sole raison d&#8217;\u00eatre is not being America.Carney, a product of the establishment and elite education, would never have been elected had it not been for Trump&#8217;s provocations, and yet he is now the most popular Canadian PM; every dust-up adds points.His political calculus is very different to that of the EU, which desperately sought to cool down tensions and had the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, inking a deal on American terms. And that stings. Large swathes of the European electorate are hungry for political courage \u2014 courage von der Leyen lacks, and would struggle to project even if she had it, since doing politics has never been her strength. In Carney, Europeans see an alternative.Von der Leyen has amassed enormous power. She could have been a transformative Commission President; instead, she plays it safe. Let&#8217;s be honest: Carney saved her State of the Union address \u2014 without him, she would have had little new to say. Too afraid to raise the question of joint debt and European financing, her &#8220;independence&#8221; moment comes without financial muscle.\u00a0Mario Draghi put a number on the cost of an independent Europe: \u20ac800 billion a year. You cannot implement the Draghi report without addressing the elephant in the room \u2014 but she won&#8217;t touch it. You can argue her institutional neutrality doesn&#8217;t allow for it, but her peer Christine Lagarde has no problem saying Europe should at least debate joint borrowing.\u00a0Plenty can be said about the tribulations and hurdles ahead for a transatlantic partnership meant to deepen trade, cultural, political and educational ties.CETA is proof enough: the Canada-EU trade deal, still unratified in countries like France, was painful to negotiate and remains unpopular in sectors like agriculture (and farmers are untouchable in Europe).\u00a0Most MEPs we spoke to on the floor told us they didn&#8217;t quite understand what an associate member would look like, but welcomed the move. The head of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, went a step further, telling Euronews in an exclusive interview that Canada could pave the way for other countries &#8220;with so much in common,&#8221; like New Zealand and Australia. My colleague Vincenzo Genovese overheard a group of Renew MEPs debating the interview over lunch \u2014 that&#8217;s zeitgeist for you.It\u2019s tempting to write this pairing off as bluff \u2014 I mean, they can\u2019t even agree on a name: an alliance for the future, or associate membership? But dismiss it at your peril, because Carney is right: at this point, the nomenclature is irrelevant.What matters is the political signal, and it&#8217;s not a futile one \u2014 just ask the US president, who has already threatened tariffs if the two turn hostile to American interests. As you know, in MAGA world, you either align or you get punished. And yes, the US already has a deal in place with the EU which cut tariffs on American products.Before I go, I want to thank our team of reporters, correspondents, producers and cameramen for two marathon days in which Euronews brought you 16 interviews, an exclusive sit-down with the Parliament&#8217;s President, the Commissioners that mattered on the day, and non-stop coverage. It&#8217;s long hours and it&#8217;s not easy. I had cold chicken nuggets for dinner each night, and believe me, you don&#8217;t want that.But we take pride in what we do, and Euronews is Europe&#8217;s newsroom \u2014 time to consider an antenna in Ottawa.Thank you for reading Off The Record make sure to subscribe here. Before you go, Europe Today, Euronews&#8217; flagship morning show, is live weekdays at 8am CET.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/09\/20\/newsletter-carney-is-right-on-eu-associate-membership-the-name-is-irrelevant-the-politics-&#8220;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/03\/07\/1200x675_cmsv2_8bfb0390-527d-5d0c-b2e9-1d293db2b860-9920307.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Germans go to the polls in state elections as pressure mounts on Merz Europe News Moscow hit by &#8216;largest-scale attack&#8217; on capital so far, mayor says Top News Stories Today Latest news bulletin | September 20th, 2026 \u2013 Midday Europe News Macron touts relationship with Canada in Saint Pierre and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2153881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2153881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2153881"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2153881\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2153881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2153881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2153881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}