Canada-EU summit in Montreal: talks on a closer relationship, disagreement over the words 'associate member'

A two-day Canada-European Union summit is being held in Montreal on Thursday and Friday. The meeting will be closely watched for details on how Canada and the European bloc deepen their ties.

Last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed opening the door to Canada for what she called an 'associate membership'—a status that does not currently exist.

The overture came after Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg, telling EU lawmakers that Canada and Europe were 'stronger together' in the face of 'geopolitical rupture.'

Carney and many EU member states welcome closer ties, but not all are on board with what to call this new relationship. Germany is questioning the 'associate member' term, fearing that Canada is getting preferential treatment ahead of other nations who also want in.

According to reports by multiple news outlets, Germany and other nations successfully lobbied to remove mention of the title in a draft statement ahead of the summit, opting instead for softer language that references an 'ever closer association.'

Germany's ambassador to Canada, Matthias Luttenberg, told CTV News on Tuesday that some member states were 'a little surprised' by von der Leyen's announcement. He added that the concept of 'associate membership' is not clearly understood as it pertains to Canada, and that Germany has used the term for something completely different: the EU's relationship with Ukraine and potentially Moldova, both of which have been trying to join the bloc for many years.

Luttenberg noted, however, that neither Canada nor the EU is seeking full membership for the North American country. Rather, both want to bring Canada 'as close as possible' to the bloc without membership.

On the first day of the summit, Carney and von der Leyen and business leaders from both Europe and Canada will gather for a business forum. Canadian officials said they also expect agreements to be hammered out on defence, critical minerals, research and trade over the two days.

Speaking to reporters earlier this week, European officials downplayed the possibility of a major announcement on Canada's new relationship with the EU, saying much will be sorted in the coming months.

But both Canadian and EU officials have provided some clues on what the relationship could look like, including closer business ties and allowing more students to study on either side of the Atlantic.

Canada also does not plan on paying a membership fee similar to other EU nations, Canadian officials said. Instead, it is looking at participating in different EU programmes that would benefit both Canada and member states.

Since taking office last year, Prime Minister Carney has pushed Canada closer to Europe as his country continues to deal with an ongoing trade war with the United States, its neighbour and largest trading customer.

US President Donald Trump has called the idea of Canada becoming an associate member of the EU 'laughable,' and has threatened 'very serious tariffs' on Europe if he considered it a 'hostile act.'

Canadian officials stressed on Wednesday that their pivot to Europe is not meant to offend anybody, but rather to build on work that was already underway. One senior Canadian official, granted anonymity to speak at a briefing ahead of the summit, said: 'The wording is emblematic of the ambition.'