1 of 1
Story summary
- Prime Minister Mark Carney accepted the EU’s offer to become its first associate member.
- EU President Ursula von der Leyen announced the associate-member plan during her State of the Union address on Wednesday.
- The new status, not in EU treaties, breaks a long-standing membership taboo.
- EU officials said the move counters President Donald Trump’s tariffs and seeks strategic autonomy.
- Labour chief negotiator Hamish Falconer said UK associate-member talks remain deadlocked.