Australia could follow Canada as EU 'associate member', parliament president says

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has welcomed the prospect of Canada becoming the first "associate member" of the European Union.

Mr Carney spoke at the European Parliament a day after the European Commission president floated the idea of a closer association between Canada and the EU.

While the 27 members of the EU would have to agree on the plan for associate membership, Australia and New Zealand could follow, the European Parliament president suggested.

Australia and New Zealand could follow Canada in becoming "associate members" of the European Union, the president of the European Parliament has suggested.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen raised the prospect of Canada becoming the first associate member of the EU in her annual State of the European Union address in Strasbourg, France, on Wednesday.

Short of full membership of the trading bloc, an "associate membership" status does not yet exist but could mean closer regulatory alignment, access to some parts of the single market and participation in some EU programmes.

Such a deal could be some distance away for Canada, with some of Prime Minister Mark Carney's politicial opponents back in Ottawa sceptical of the idea.

But European Parliament President Roberta Metsola hinted Australia and New Zealand could explore a similar path to Canada.

"There are countries with which we want to deepen our relationship," Ms Metsola told Europe Today.

"I don't doubt that it will include other countries, and others will come knocking at our door.

Ms Metsola said Australia and New Zealand, which both have trade deals with the EU, are examples of deep relationships.

"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 minerals, alliances that can be forged," she said.

The ABC has contacted the Australian government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the proposal of closer ties with the EU, saying Europe and Canada were stronger together and should deepen ties to protect their citizens' prosperity.