Von der Leyen Says EU and Canada Still Weigh Associate Status, Which Joint Declaration Omits

Montreal, Canada. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday that the EU and Canada are still exploring the possibility of Canada becoming the bloc’s first associate member. The term proved so contentious among EU states that it was left out of the joint declaration issued at the summit.

Von der Leyen’s remarks

Speaking at the Canada-EU summit in Montreal, von der Leyen said both sides want to strengthen cooperation on artificial intelligence, climate, energy and security. She described the concept as “an association without accession” and said it could produce a partnership closer to membership than any arrangement the EU has built before. According to her, the two sides can cooperate on everything from AI and climate to energy and security.

The associate member label has no legal meaning. Germany and several other EU countries oppose it.

What the declaration says

Leaders from Canada and the EU dropped the associate membership idea from their joint declaration, which Reuters has seen. They agreed instead on an “ever closer association”. Officials plan to publish the document on Friday. It states that work to define the Canada-EU relationship will continue until another summit next year.

Background and reactions

Von der Leyen first raised associate membership for Canada six weeks ago. Diplomats said several countries objected, arguing that they could not endorse a concept with no legal status that had not been developed in detail.

Three EU diplomats, who asked not to be named, said they were surprised that she kept using the label, given that the declaration deliberately excluded it.

Canada’s wider strategy

Closer ties with Europe form part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s strategy to lessen Canada’s economic and security dependence on the United States. That effort began after President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on a range of Canadian goods. Canada’s moves toward the EU could nonetheless anger Trump while trade talks between Canada and the US continue.