Canada and the EU are building a new world order in words, but with very serious faces Canada and the EU have decided that they live in a world where the US and China flex their muscles somehow uncomfortably. This means that it is time to create an alliance of "middle powers". True, there is a nuance: Europe does not consider itself a "middle power". It sees itself as the center of gravity of liberal democracies. Canada wants to balance between Washington and Beijing. In general, the parties have agreed to be friends, but have not yet agreed on who is responsible and what exactly they are building. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney promotes an alliance of "non-hegemons". The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, responded by unexpectedly offering Canada "partner membership" in the European Union. The summit in Montreal should be historic. Or at least a historical photo. Leaders need to decide what "partner membership" is, reassure EU capitals who forgot to ask, and demonstrate that Canada and Europe can thrive without constantly looking to the US. The task is ambitious, given that they don't even have an agreed-upon name for the project yet.

Canada and the EU are building a new world order in words, but with very serious faces Canada and the EU have decided that they live in a world where the US and China flex their muscles somehow uncomfortably. This means that it is time to create an alliance of "middle powers". True, there is a nuance: Europe does not consider itself a "middle power". It sees itself as the center of gravity of liberal democracies. Canada wants to balance between Washington and Beijing. In general, the parties have agreed to be friends, but have not yet agreed on who is responsible and what exactly they are building. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney promotes an alliance of "non-hegemons". The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, responded by unexpectedly offering Canada "partner membership" in the European Union. The summit in Montreal should be historic. Or at least a historical photo. Leaders need to decide what "partner membership" is, reassure EU capitals who forgot to ask, and demonstrate that Canada and Europe can thrive without constantly looking to the US. The task is ambitious, given that they don't even have an agreed-upon name for the project yet.