European Union backtracks on Canada becoming ‘associate member’

What the report says

The European Union has dropped language suggesting that Canada could become an “associate member” of the bloc, according to reporting by Reuters and the German news agency dpa cited by Al Jazeera. The change appears in a joint draft Canada-EU statement ahead of a summit in Montreal hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Officials were expected to publish the statement on Friday.

Al Jazeera reported that the earlier idea, raised in September by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, had become a point of disagreement among EU governments. Diplomats cited by Reuters and dpa said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other EU leaders pressed to remove the wording from the draft. The revised text instead refers to an “ever closer association” between Canada and the EU.

The draft also points to practical areas of cooperation, including a joint study on Canadian liquefied natural gas exports to Europe, plans for stronger international connectivity through new subsea cable infrastructure, and measures to make it easier for young Canadians and Europeans to work across the Atlantic. Al Jazeera noted that the talks come as Canada seeks to reduce dependence on the United States, where trade and security ties have been strained under President Donald Trump. Canada is also pursuing closer ties with the EU, its second-largest trading partner.