EU Backs Away From Offering Canada ‘Associate Member’ Status

EU countries have dropped the idea of offering Canada “associate member” status, opting instead for the more cautious wording “ever-closer association” ahead of the EU-Canada summit in Montreal, Politico reported on Wednesday, citing the latest draft of the joint statement.

A group of EU countries, including Germany, Italy, Greece and France, objected to a reference to “associate member” status for Canada in the joint EU-Canada statement due to be issued in Montreal, diplomats said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed granting Canada “associate member” status in her State of the Union address on Sept. 16, surprising some member states.

The previous version of the statement said the EU and Canada would “work on defining, by the 2027 EU-Canada summit, an associate member concept that will thereby reflect, through this ever-closer association, our shared aspirations and cooperation toward the goals of prosperity, economic security and strategic autonomy that we share.”

The final version contains the pledge: “We will build an ever-closer association between Canada and the EU (…) and work on defining, by the 2027 EU-Canada summit, the concept of an ever-closer association between Canada and the EU, without full membership.”

The text has not yet been approved. EU countries have until 6 p.m. to submit objections. (PAP)