European Union backtracks on Canada becoming ‘associate member’
Summary
The EU has removed references to Canada becoming an “associate member” from a draft joint statement, according to Reuters and dpa. The draft instead calls for closer ties, including cooperation on undersea cables, a study of Canadian liquefied natural gas exports to Europe, and opportunities for young people to work across the Atlantic.Key Facts
- Reuters and dpa reported that the terms “associate member” and “associated membership” were removed from the draft Canada-EU statement.
- Officials planned to make the statement public on Friday, according to the agencies.
- The change comes ahead of an EU-Canada summit in Montreal hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen raised the idea of associate membership in September.
- Diplomats said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other EU leaders pushed to remove the membership terms during negotiations.
- The draft calls for an “ever closer association” and proposes a joint initiative on undersea cable infrastructure linking Europe, Canada and Asia.
- The draft also proposes a feasibility study on Canadian liquefied natural gas exports to Europe and work opportunities for young Canadians and Europeans across the Atlantic.
- Carney said the summit would launch formal EU-Canada negotiations that could take another year.
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