EU, Canada to bring ties to ‘highest’ possible level at Montreal summit

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen anticipates the EU and Canada will elevate their relationship to the highest possible level at the upcoming Montreal summit. As they navigate a world of growing rivalries and uncertainty with the US and China, both the 27-nation bloc and Canada aim to forge an ever-closer partnership. Von der Leyen emphasized their shared goal of bringing their relationship to the highest level possible, even though the term "associate member" does not exist in EU treaties.

This idea, however, was met with opposition from member states, particularly Germany, who advocated for dropping the term from a joint summit statement. Canada and the EU have both been affected by the US President Donald Trump's second term, with Trump's tariffs harming Canada's economy and his annexation threats causing outrage.

However, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has emphasized the need to reduce dependence on the US and promised a new, ambitious alliance with the EU. Both sides face challenges from China's growing economic heft, with Brussels seeking to protect its industry from unfair competition and the EU looking to reduce its dependence on Chinese goods and raw materials.

In a world of growing rivalries, von der Leyen stressed that sovereignty and independence are now about the capacity to act together. The summit could lead to an agreement to align policies in areas such as climate, energy, and artificial intelligence, as well as Canada participating in the EU's Erasmus youth program.