EU chief pushes for deeper Canada partnership despite member objections
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated her call for an associate-member style partnership with Canada at a Montreal summit, while some EU members, notably Germany, voiced resistance.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used a keynote address in Montreal to reaffirm her proposal for a partnership with Canada that would bring the two parties "closer to membership than anything we've done before." The two-day summit aims to deepen the Canada-EU relationship as both sides seek to reduce reliance on the United States under President Donald Trump.
The term "associate membership" was removed from a joint statement the day before the speech, replaced by a commitment to an "ever closer association" after objections emerged from within the bloc. Von der Leyen, who announced the initiative last month, described the proposal as "an association without accession" and said it would align policies on artificial intelligence, climate, energy, security and governance.
"It means more work shared by the European Commission and the Canadian government," von der Leyen said, adding that cooperation could extend to "parliament to parliament" and "court to court" interactions.
EU officials note that while the Commission can promote the idea, final decisions rest with the member states. Sources told CBC that Germany opposes the "associate member" label, calling it a red line.
Canadian Finance Minister Bill Carney emphasized that the terminology is less important than the practical impact on Canadians, stating that the goal is to make Canada more independent and sovereign.
President Trump has warned that he could view the move as hostile and consider trade retaliation against Europe. A senior Canadian official, speaking on background, said the summit is not directed against any country but reflects shared interests.
The EU-Canada statement seen by CBC commits to a predictable trade environment, deeper Arctic cooperation, counter-information measures, continued support for Ukraine and negotiations for greater participation in the Erasmus student exchange program. While the statement is now finalized by EU members, Canada may still request adjustments before the summit concludes on Friday.
Carney is scheduled to host a business roundtable and a dinner honoring von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa later in the week.