EU removes Canada associate label
Draft summit statement drops the term after internal pushback, replacing it with a pledge of closer association.
By Tunde Bailey ·
European Union leaders removed the phrase “associate member” from a joint draft statement with Canada on Thursday. The change reversed a proposal made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in September. The revised text now calls for an “ever closer association” between the two sides.
German news agency dpa and Reuters reported that the terms “associate member” and “associated membership” were stripped from the declaration. Officials plan to release the final statement on Friday. The edits follow a day of talks in Montreal, where the EU-Canada summit is set to open later on Thursday under the host of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Von der Leyen originally pitched Canada as the bloc’s first associate member in September. The idea aimed to strengthen ties as both regions sought to reduce reliance on the United States. However, the concept proved divisive among the 27 EU nations. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other leaders pushed for the removal of the specific title, according to diplomats cited by news agencies.
The updated draft focuses on practical cooperation rather than formal status. It includes a joint initiative to build new subsea cable infrastructure connecting Europe, Canada, and Asia. The text also proposes a feasibility study on exporting Canadian liquefied natural gas to Europe. Additionally, the plan allows young people from both sides to work across the Atlantic.
Carney has prioritized deepening ties with the EU, Canada’s second-largest trading partner, since trade with the U.S. stalled under President Donald Trump. Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods earlier this year. The Canadian leader told reporters on Tuesday that the summit would launch formal negotiations expected to last another year. He noted that specific titles matter less than the tangible outcomes for citizens.
Trump previously described the associate membership proposal as “laughable.” He warned that if he viewed the move as a “hostile act,” the United States might stop trading with Europe on many goods. Carney’s strategy aims to diversify Canada’s economic and security partners. The shift in language reflects a compromise to move the summit forward without triggering renewed friction with Washington.
