A New Kind of Neighbor: The EU's Associate Membership Experiment The European Union has long been a magnet for nations seeking closer economic and political ties, but its latest overture is one with far reaching implications: inviting Canada to become its first "associate member.
" On the surface, this move seems like a response to pressure from the United States. However, scratch beneath the veneer of diplomatic nicety, and you'll find a more complex calculus at play.
The Rise of the Associate Model Associate membership is not new; several countries have been granted this status by the EU.