EU-Canada ties

Europe Edition - Today's top story: Thanks, Trump: Why Canada may become the European Union's first ever 'associate member' September 17, 2026 Europe Edition   Canada may not be in Europe geographically speaking, but it could well become the EU’s first “associate member” following ongoing bilateral talks between Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Would Canada joining the EU be a win-win politically and economically for both parties amid growing tensions over trade with the United States? For centuries Russia has remained an enigma for much of the world on many levels, particularly concerning its foreign policy, but how much do we actually know about how the land lies in the country today? Elsewhere we look at how the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is testing the welfare of seafarers stuck there. Finally, research from Lund University explores Sweden’s penchant for the paranormal. Find out why, despite the nation’s rational, science-backed profile, it isn’t ready to give up its ghostlore.   Carly Lock Editor, Paris   Thanks, Trump: Why Canada may become the European Union’s first ever ‘associate member’ Stewart Prest, University of British Columbia Canada has spent the last century defending European democracies. Now it’s asking them to return the favour.   Strait of Hormuz crisis: how danger and uncertainty can affect the mental health of seafarers Patricia Kennedy, University College Cork; Anita Rayegani, University of Hamburg; Eka Siradze, Tbilisi State University Research links unsafe conditions, long hours and poor sleep with worse mental health at sea. Conflict can intensify each of these pressures. How war and sanctions are reshaping how Russia governs its vast territory Sofia Borushkina, European University Institute; Monash University Support settlements are at the forefront of Russian spatial policy. What does the development of these administrative service hubs tell us about how the land lies in Russia today? Could victory for the AfD spell the end of wind farms in Germany? Bastien Fond, Humboldt University of Berlin; Université de Caen Normandie The AfD has put the fight against wind turbines at the core of its election strategy. Could a win in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt slow down Germany’s energy transition? Europe can’t achieve space sovereignty alone. Here’s why Audrey Rouyre, Montpellier Business School; European Academy of Management (EURAM) Paris’ International Space Summit was an opportunity to understand what and who Europe needs to reliably sustain its launch ambitions and become a world-class leader in Space. PISA 2025 rankings: are we asking the right questions about schooling? Claude Diebolt, Université de Strasbourg; Romain Diebolt, University of Southampton Are education systems succeeding in transforming individual abilities into collective opportunities? This is what rankings ought to be measuring rather than reducing education to a few figures. Meta is changing Instagram and Facebook to protect teens’ mental health. Are the new measures backed up by science? Ingrid Mosquera Gende, UNIR - Universidad Internacional de La Rioja ; José A. Morales García, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Luis M. Rojo Bofill, Universitat de València Meta has been forced to roll out new measures, but many can be easily circumvented.   A Swedish ghost story Katarzyna Herd, Lund University Swedes take pride in being modern – and secular. But interest in the paranormal is high. Calisthenics: five ways this bodyweight workout can benefit your fitness Jen Wilson, Nottingham Trent University; Athalie Redwood-Brown, Nottingham Trent University Calisthenics is not only a powerful way of building strength, it can be done pretty well anywhere. How Germany’s far-right AfD is courting the voters it promises to deport Deniz Torcu, IE University The AfD won Saxony-Anhalt without migrant voters, but it cannot ignore them in Berlin. Sweden elections: why immigrants are underrepresented at the polls Derek Stanford Hutcheson, Malmö University Despite being enfranchised, electoral turnout among non-citizens in Sweden remains low. Populists claim to speak for ‘the people’ – but who are they actually talking about? Clara Juarez Miro, Universitat de Barcelona “The people” is a slippery, vague concept – and this is precisely what makes it so powerful.     You’re receiving this newsletter from The Conversation The Conversation France (assoc. 1901) 14, rue Sainte-Cécile 75009 Paris