EU drops “associate membership” after pushback, settles for softer “ever closer association” in Canada summit text
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The European Union removed language on associate membership from the draft EU-Canada summit declaration after Germany objected, replacing it with a more cautious promise of an ever closer association.
The European Union has dropped any mention of "associate membership" from the draft joint declaration due to be adopted at the EU-Canada summit in Montreal. The change came after objections from Germany and swaps the term for a pledge of "ever closer association" between the bloc and Canada, still well short of full membership.
The revision, brought in at Germany’s request, was circulated to member states on Wednesday and is now moving through the EU’s silent-procedure rule, under which a text is adopted unless a member state explicitly objects. Germany, France, Italy and Greece all raised concerns about the earlier draft.
European Council President António Costa’s office has been in discussions with several member states, with Germany leading the resistance. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has previously suggested a similar status for Ukraine as a way to provide security guarantees before full accession.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had initially floated the idea of Canada becoming the EU’s first associate member in her State of the Union address to the European Parliament. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, however, preferred the phrase "alliance for the future" and said the substance of the agreement should come before the wording.
The revised text has been resubmitted for silent procedure and will be adopted unless any EU country objects later this afternoon.