Why Mark Carney's romance with Europe has its limits
Berlin opposes fast-tracking Canada's associate membership status of the EU, and officials warn Ottawa risks upsetting other partners.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has proposed making Canada the first "associated member" of the EU, a move that was met with applause from European parliamentarians. However, officials in Berlin and other EU capitals were less impressed, saying that such a status does not exist and is beyond von der Leyen's reach.
The German government spokesperson, Stefan Kornelius, said that while Berlin is open to discussing new association models with Canada, the term "associated member" needs to be reconsidered. Von der Leyen's proposal includes cooperation in defense, technology, and energy, and aims to bring the EU-Canada relationship to the highest possible level.
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