The European Union has stepped back from its proposal to initiate talks with Canada regarding "associate member" status, a move that emerged just as an EU-Canada summit commenced in Montreal. Disagreements among EU member states led to the dilution of the joint statement, which will now offer an "ever closer association" rather than the more defined "associate member" designation.
Earlier in the week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had championed the idea of Canada as an "associate member" during the Montreal summit, despite facing some internal opposition. While the "associate member" terminology is reportedly off the table, discussions at the summit are focused on deepening economic and defense ties between the EU and Canada, with officials suggesting the new relationship will be closer than ever before.
EU Retreats on 'Associate Member' Status Offer to Canada Amidst Member State Disagreements
6 stories · 4 sources
Sources
- EU chief von der Leyen pushes Canada as 'associate member' — Reddit - Geopolitics,
- Canada welcomes EU leaders to Montreal for talks on next steps in relationship — Reddit - World News,
- Carney to push for closer ties at Canada-EU summit in Montreal — BBC World,
- EU backs away from offer to Canada to start ‘associate member’ talks — The Guardian World,
- EU dropping associate membership title for its closer alliance with Canada: sources — Reddit - World News,
- Canada's new relationship with EU will be 'closer to membership' than ever, senior officials say — Reddit - World News,