E.U. Dropping Associate Membership Offer to Canada (for Now)

CBC News reports a joint statement expected to be released at the 21st Canada-EU summit in Montreal on Thursday, an event hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, will now instead seek out “softer language promising closer ties,” according to anonymous sources who have seen the latest draft of the statement.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen surprised many six weeks ago when she announced the E.U. would begin the process of making Canada its first associate member — a status that does not exist within the bloc — delivering more questions than answers among some members and Canadian politicians about what that would look like and just who would benefit, the report further notes.

Reuters reports the draft declaration said work to define the relationship would continue until next year’s E.U.-Canada summit.

The report notes ⁠Germany is leading a group that argued they could not sign up to a ​concept that had no legal status and had not yet been fleshed out, diplomats ​said. ---More...

EU countries have dropped the proposal to give Canada “associate member” status in the bloc after countries including France, Germany and Italy opposed the idea. Instead, the EU plans to pursue a closer relationship with Canada, short of full membership, with further details expected by the 2027 summit.

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