EU Drops Plan to Make Canada an Associate Member

European Union leaders have removed the language designating Canada as an associate member from a draft joint statement ahead of a summit in Montreal. German news agency dpa and Reuters reported on Thursday that the terms associate member and associated membership were struck from the document. Officials plan to make the final statement public on Friday.

The change comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney hosts the EU-Canada summit in Montreal later on Thursday. In September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed that Canada become the first associate member of the 27-nation bloc. At the time, the idea was framed as a move for both sides to pivot away from the United States under President Donald Trump.

Diplomats cited by Reuters and dpa said the proposal divided EU countries during negotiations over the summit declaration. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and several other leaders pushed for the removal of the specific terminology. The updated statement now calls for an ever closer association between Canada and the EU without using the formal title.

The document outlines several concrete steps to tighten economic and logistical ties. It includes a joint initiative to build new subsea cable infrastructure to improve connectivity between Europe, Canada, and Asia. The text also proposes a joint feasibility study on Canadian liquefied natural gas exports to Europe. Additionally, it aims to create pathways for young Canadians and Europeans to work across the Atlantic.

Carney has sought to reduce Canada’s reliance on the US since Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods. The US remains Ottawa’s largest economic partner, while the EU is the second-largest. Deeper ties with Europe risk angering Trump as trade talks between the two North American nations continue. Trump previously called the EU’s associate membership proposal laughable and warned that the US might stop trading with Europe on many things if he viewed the move as a hostile act.

Carney told reporters on Tuesday that the summit will launch formal negotiations between the EU and Canada. He said these talks would take another year to complete. Regarding the change in terminology, Carney stated that the specific names or nomenclature do not matter. He said what matters is the difference the partnership will make to the lives of Canadians.