EU Drops 'Associate Member' Label for Canada From Summit Statement

The European Union has abandoned the idea of describing Canada as an "associate member" of the bloc, according to media reports published on Thursday.

The German news agency dpa and the Reuters news agency reported that the terms "associate member" and "associated membership" were removed from a joint draft statement between Canada and the EU. Officials reportedly plan to release the statement publicly on Friday.

The reports emerged as the EU-Canada summit in Montreal, hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, was expected to begin later on Thursday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen raised the possibility in September of Canada becoming the first "associate member" of the 27-nation bloc. The proposal was a striking overture at a time when both sides are seeking to move away from reliance on the United States under President Donald Trump.

According to Reuters and dpa, citing diplomats, the idea proved divisive as EU countries negotiated the summit declaration. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and several other leaders of member states reportedly pushed to have the terms taken out of the draft.

The revised statement instead calls for an "ever closer association" between Canada and the EU. It includes a joint initiative to improve connectivity between Europe, Canada and Asia through "new subsea cable infrastructure". It also proposes a joint feasibility study on exports of Canadian liquefied natural gas to Europe, and measures to let young Canadians and Europeans work across the Atlantic.

Closer ties with Europe form a key part of Carney's strategy to lessen Canada's economic and security dependence on the US, a push that began after Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods. The EU is Canada's second-largest trading partner, while the US remains Ottawa's largest economic partner, though trade relations with Washington have been strained under Trump.

The effort carries risks, since Canada's move toward the EU could anger Trump while trade talks between Canada and the US continue. Trump previously described the associate membership proposal as "laughable". He said that if he viewed the move as a "hostile act", the US might stop trading with Europe "on many things".

Carney told reporters on Tuesday that the summit would launch formal negotiations between the EU and Canada, which would take another year. "The good news is it doesn't matter about specific names or nomenclature," he said. "What matters is the difference it will make to the lives of Canadians."