Germany blocked the proposal for Canada to gain EU associate membership; Canada had been expected to be promised “ever-closer association” with the EU. The decision will be made at an EU summit later, according to a draft statement seen by The Telegraph. France, Greece and Italy also voiced reservations about extending the offer to Canada.
It was Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, who had originally pitched the idea of “associate membership” for Canada at her annual State of the Union address. She had offered the position to the North American country without asking the opinion of the EU member states.
The top Eurocrat’s offer came with few details, leaving the bloc’s member states puzzled about what it could entail.
In a series of behind-closed-doors meetings, the EU’s 27 capitals set to work expanding on Mrs von der Leyen’s proposal before an announcement at meetings in Montreal this week.
European officials working on talks to reset relations with Britain believe much of the Canada statement will be repurposed for a summit between London and Brussels in late November — Telegraph reports.
