EU and Canada deepen cooperation with digital trade pact and associate-member framework
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The European Union and Canada signed a digital trade agreement and announced plans for Canada to become the bloc’s first associate member, while also expanding cooperation on minerals, AI and student exchanges.
The European Union and Canada used a summit in Montreal to launch an "Alliance for the Future" and sign a digital trade deal, marking the start of a broader partnership that could make Canada the bloc’s first associate member. Prime Minister Mark Carney hosted the meeting, which was attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.
"Canada and the EU are working to establish the closest possible partnership, which will be far from full membership, but which will make Canada the first associate member of the European Union," Carney posted on X.
"Today in Montreal, we have taken a major step forward by establishing more than twenty measures that will increase affordability, create opportunities and ensure our sovereignty on both sides of the Atlantic," he added.
The joint statement said the European Investment Bank will fund critical Canadian resources, especially raw minerals, and that the partners will boost cooperation on artificial-intelligence security and safety. It also emphasized that modern sovereignty requires secure access to critical minerals, semiconductors, payment systems, energy, vaccines, space-based communications and AI.
Canada pledged an initial contribution of €500 million to the EU’s €90 billion support loan for Ukraine, and both sides agreed to begin talks on expanding Canada’s participation in Erasmus+, the EU’s flagship student-exchange programme.
The associate-member concept has no formal legal basis and is contested by some EU member states, but its use reflects a desire to strengthen ties as President Donald Trump’s trade policies pressure traditional allies.