The EU wants a new kind of member — and Australia could be in the mix

Australia and New Zealand could follow in Canada's footsteps to become "associate members" of the European Union, a top EU official has suggested.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, in an interview with Europe Today, specifically brought up Australia and New Zealand as examples of countries that could deepen their relationships with the alliance.

Metsola said the EU had different models for its relationships with other countries, from full membership to participation in the European Economic Area, and was also looking to deepen ties with partners such as Canada — a model she expected other countries to pursue.

"I don't doubt that that will also include other countries that will come," she said.

"We've already seen it, both in terms of legislation that we pass, where we see partners from across the world — Australia, New Zealand being some examples — of saying, look, we want to deepen our relationship."

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"We're doing it in terms of trade. We're doing it in terms of conversation on what we do with social media, with children, with critical raw materials, alliances that can be forged."

She emphasised that "friends matter" during times of global uncertainty.

Canadian Prime ‌Minister Mark Carney has welcomed the proposal of becoming an "associate member" of the EU, saying Europe and Canada are stronger together ‌and should deepen ties to protect their citizens' prosperity.

"Europe and Canada are each strong. Europe and Canada are even stronger together," Carney told the European parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday.

"I am not proposing a third bloc in order to become a great-power rival — only with better manners."

"We do not seek power to dominate others. On the contrary, we are pursuing ‌resilience so that ‌no one can ⁠control our open markets, impair our sovereignty, threaten our territorial integrity, or undermine our freedoms, our democracies, our rule of law."

Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump threatened to take action against the EU if it moved forward with European Commission President Ursula von der ‌Leyen's proposal of associate membership for Canada.

Both the EU and Canada have been facing stiff rivalry and pressure from the Trump administration on trade , among other matters, and from an increasingly assertive China.