Days after Canada agreed to pursue an ill-defined and counterintuitive “associate membership” with the European Union, the continental alliance is handing out further invitations to countries on the other side of the world.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada on Wednesday to join the 27-nation bloc as its first associate member, framing it as an “Alliance for the Future.” EU officials have offered virtually zero explanation of what that status would mean or how it would change relations with Canada, but European Parliament President Roberta Metsola is already expanding the roster of possible candidates — and Australia is leaping to sign on the dotted line.