EU set to scrap ‘associate member’ offer for Canada
A group of countries including Germany, Italy, Greece and France all objected to mentioning associate membership in a joint EU-Canada statement.
EU nations have abandoned the concept of granting Canada "associate member" status in the 27-member bloc, opting for more subdued language that promises "ever closer association" ahead of a crucial EU-Canada summit, according to POLITICO. Germany, Italy, Greece, and France were among the countries that objected to the term "associate membership" appearing in the draft statement that will be released in Montreal.
Originally proposed by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her September State of the European Union speech, the idea sparked some surprise among EU countries. A previous draft of the joint statement had outlined the EU and Canada working together to define the "Associate Member" concept by the 2027 EU-Canada Summit, reflecting their shared pursuit of prosperity, economic security, and strategic autonomy.
However, the final version of the draft statement now reads: "We will create an even closer association between Canada and the EU... and work to define by the 2027 EU-Canada Summit the concept of an ever closer association of Canada to the EU, short of full membership itself." The final language is expected to undergo one more round of approval before 6 p.m. deadline.
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