EU States Block Von der Leyen Plan for Canada Associate Status

European Union governments have rejected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposal to give Canada "associate membership" in the bloc, opting instead for closer cooperation without membership. Germany, France and Italy were among the countries opposing the plan ahead of a two-day EU-Canada summit beginning Thursday in Montreal, according to diplomats cited by dpa and AFP. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and several other EU leaders pushed to remove the proposed status from a draft summit declaration.

EU member states approved the revised document on Wednesday evening, with publication expected Friday at the end of the summit. The revised declaration emphasizes stronger economic and political ties rather than creating a new membership category. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and several European commissioners are attending the Montreal talks.

The proposal, first presented by von der Leyen in September during a speech attended by Carney, raised concerns because existing EU treaties do not establish an associate membership status. Diplomats cited uncertainty about the arrangement and insufficient consultation between the European Commission and member states.

Another objection involved the terminology's previous use in discussions about Ukraine's potential EU accession. Merz had suggested associate status for Kyiv as an intermediate step toward full membership, allowing Ukraine to participate in EU summits and ministerial meetings without voting rights. Von der Leyen used the same term for Canada, although Canada does not have a legal path to EU membership. An earlier draft of the declaration proposed allowing Canada to participate in consultations on major EU political and regulatory initiatives, with the arrangement's full scope to be defined at the 2027 EU-Canada summit.

Carney played down the disagreement over the declaration's wording, arguing that the practical effects of closer cooperation mattered more than the terminology. The revised initiative uses the term "Alliance for the Future," which Carney has frequently employed to describe relations between Canada and the EU. The partnership aims to reduce trade barriers, facilitate investment and strengthen supplies of critical raw materials, medicines and technologies during crises. The two sides also plan to expand cooperation on energy, climate protection, artificial intelligence, security and education.

Canada could receive broader access to EU programs covering research, education and defense. The declaration also proposes a new economic council bringing together businesses from both sides of the Atlantic and a study examining the feasibility of increasing Canadian liquefied natural gas exports to Europe. However, EU governments scaled back several economic commitments in the original draft.

The revised document removes an explicit goal of deeper financial market integration and replaces a proposal for preferential treatment in economic security measures with a commitment to limit potential negative effects on each other. Trade disputes, US tariffs and President Donald Trump's territorial claims have increased concerns in Canada and Europe about the reliability of Washington as a partner. Both sides want closer ties to reduce dependence on other countries and strengthen their ability to pursue shared interests.

Trump previously dismissed the idea of Canadian associate membership in the EU as ridiculous. He also threatened consequences if the arrangement harmed US interests, warning that he could impose high tariffs or halt trade with Europe in several sectors.