EU drops 'associate member' plan for Canada after internal dispute

The European Union has removed its proposal to begin talks on 'associate membership' for Canada from a draft joint statement, replacing it with the phrase 'an ever closer association' just hours before leaders gathered in Montreal for a summit.

The change follows intense disagreement among member states regarding the status, which was first announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her state of the union address in September. The initial declaration surprised many officials, as the EU has not admitted a new member state since Croatia joined in 2013.

Ambassadors raised concerns on Monday about the lack of a legal definition for 'associate status.' Questions included whether Canada would gain a seat in the European Council or hold voting rights in legislative bodies. Italy proposed keeping the term 'associate membership as proposed by the commission' to defer the definition, while Germany pushed for the softer language of 'an ever closer association.'

Germany argued that 'associate membership' should serve as an interim step for candidate countries like Ukraine or Montenegro, noting the status lacks formal grounding in current EU treaties. A diplomat described the internal process as 'fixing the plane while it is flying,' stating that many member states, including Germany, were unhappy that only von der Leyen's closest staff had been consulted.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the shift on Tuesday, telling reporters that the summit marks the launch of formal negotiations that will continue for another year. He stated, 'The good news is it doesn't matter about specific names or nomenclature. What matters is the difference it will make to the lives of Canadians.'

The summit runs Thursday and Friday. A previous version of the draft statement contained at least two references to Canada as an 'associate member.' The final text will be issued at the end of the two-day meeting.

US President Donald Trump had previously called the EU's original proposal 'laughable' and warned that the US might stop trading with Europe if the move was interpreted as a hostile act. Meanwhile, TD Economics reported that removing trade barriers in defence, energy, and digital markets could yield tens of billions of dollars in additional trade for Canada.