Europe Today: Canada welcomes EU's 'associate member' offer, but what next?

By&nbspAdnan Leal Published on 18/09/2026 - GMT+2 Europe Today digests what Canada's new EU associate member status actually means, as EU finance ministers meet in Dublin over spiralling energy costs. Also on the show: Fresh reactions to the EU's new Kids Act, which aims to restrict social media and AI chatbots for children under 15. On today's show: Angela Skujins analyses what Canada's newly offered "associate member" status with the EU actually means in practice, after Mark Carney told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that he welcomes "much closer ties" with Europe. Shona Murray reports from Dublin, where EU finance ministers and central bank governors are gathering for two days of talks as part of Ireland's EU presidency. She interviews with Simon Harris, Irish Minister for Finance. Andrew Caruana Galizia, Head of Europe and Eurasia at the World Economic Forum, joins Europe Today to discuss a new WEF study on high energy costs as a drag on European competitiveness, two years on from the Draghi report on reviving the EU economy. Adnan Leal takes to the streets to ask people about the EU's newly unveiled Kids Act, which bans social media accounts for under-13s and stops AI chatbots from acting as "human friends" to children. Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, Director General at tech lobby DIGITALEUROPE, also reacts to the proposed EU Kids Act that will restrict social media access for children under 15. When and where to watch Europe Today? You can join Euronews’ anchors Méabh Mc Mahon and Stefan Grobe live on TV and Euronews' website, as well as digital platforms (YouTube, Facebook, X, and Instagram), every weekday at 8 am Brussels time. In just 20 minutes, we bring you the day's key events plus crucial analysis of all the stories shaping the EU and beyond. Also available as a and podcast. Go to accessibility shortcuts Watch: European Commissioners react to Ursula von der Leyen's speech Australia and New Zealand could follow Canada into associated EU membership, Metsola tells Euronews Bringing EU and Canada closer is 'not against any third country', MEP David McAllister says Donald Trump Canada EU enlargement Social Media