Von der Leyen touts ‘associate member’ status for Canada over objections of EU capitals
Commission president’s speech contrasted with a statement by Germany's Friedrich Merz, who referred instead to an “alliance for the future” between the EU and Canada.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Thursday her ambition to elevate EU-Canada relations to the "highest possible level", suggesting potential associate member status for Canada within the bloc despite earlier opposition from EU capitals. The idea of associate membership was first proposed by von der Leyen in September.
The EU summit, taking place in Montreal, will see von der Leyen and Prime Minister Mark Carney unveil plans for deeper cooperation amid a rise in global autocracy and uncertain relations with US President Donald Trump. Von der Leyen highlighted the focus on areas like AI, climate and energy policy, as well as enhancing shared work between the European Commission and Canadian government, as well as "Parliament to Parliament" and "Court to Court" references.
The term associate membership is likely to provoke some EU capitals, since a day earlier, a group of countries led by Germany had rejected the idea of using the term in a joint statement. Germany has been leading the opposition to the use of associate member status, according to EU diplomats. Carney responded to the reports of EU countries dropping the term, emphasizing that what matters is the difference it will make to Canadians' lives, making Canada a more independent and sovereign nation.
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