António Costa
Role at the time: President of the European Council, speaking in an interview with POLITICO in Dublin
Statement summary
European Council President António Costa told POLITICO that the EU wants to develop the closest possible relationship with Canada. Asked to define associate membership, he described it as a way of saying the EU wants to do more with Canada and act with it as much as possible.
“This concept means basically that we want to do more and act as much as possible with Canada”
POLITICO's report on an interview with European Council President António Costa in Dublin, published September 20, 2026. It carries his answer when asked to define associate membership and his remarks on defence, technology and democracy as areas for cooperation with Canada.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The reference point is the offer to make Canada the first associate member of the European Union. Costa said the EU wants the closest possible relationship with Canada and described associate membership as a way of saying the EU wants to do more with it, naming defence, technology and democracy as areas to work on. He also noted that Canada cannot apply for full membership, which limits the label but not his support for the offer. We labeled it Defended or excused.