EU ‘associate member’ offer piques Canberra’s curiosity

A minister has welcomed talk of Australia becoming an “associate member” of the EU, saying the country “can make a big contribution”.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made global headlines this week by saying she wanted to work on “opening the door” for Canada’s associate membership – a status that does not exist and could take years to establish.

What it would look like remains unclear, but from what Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said it would include much deeper access to the €18 trillion ($A29 trillion) European single market and greater freedom of movement for Canadians in Europe.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola suggested overnight that Australia and New Zealand were also candidates.

“There are countries with which we want to deepen our relationship, and that includes Canada and … I don’t doubt that will include other countries,” she told Euronews.

“We’ve already seen partners from across the world, Australia, New Zealand being examples of saying, ‘Look, we want to deepen our relationship’.”

She went on to say that “what we cannot let go in this time of such uncertainty is that friends matter, and if we can do more things with our friends, then let’s do them”.

“We are a big contributor to global discussions and I think we have a really important role to play,” she told the ABC.

“I think that Australia is a country that is a force for good in the world and we can make a big contribution in wherever we are.”

Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the Albanese government would “look at that issue” and make a decision “in Australia’s national interest”.

“Obviously, Europe is a very large consumer market,” he told News24, adding that it was “a very, very important strategic ally for Australia”.

“When Ursula von der Leyen came to Australia, the Prime Minister and her signed a security arrangement.

“Our universities are now starting to collaborate through the Horizon Fund that Australia’s recently gone into.

“So, we are deepening that engagement. But again, it will be an assessment of whether or not this is in Australia’s national interest.”