Is EU’s offer to Canada a blueprint for Britain – or a reminder it is out in the cold?

Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, in Strasbourg, France. Photograph: Justin Tang/The Canadian Press/AP Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, in Strasbourg, France. Photograph: Justin Tang/The Canadian Press/AP European Union Analysis Is EU’s offer to Canada a blueprint for Britain – or a reminder it is out in the cold? Lisa O’Carroll Senior correspondent Ursula von der Leyen has opened door for Canada to become associate member to deepen links in ‘openly hostile world’

Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has been advocating closer alignment with “middle powers” since January in the face of recklessness in Washington.

But what should worry another middle power, the UK, is that it was Brussels that came up with Wednesday’s big reveal in Strasbourg.