Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has set the summer of 2027 as the deadline for Canada to become the European Union’s first “associate member”. Canada and the European Union are therefore aiming to conclude negotiations on this “associate membership” by June 2027. Following a bilateral summit in Montreal, Carney said that the proposed “associate member” status was intended to bring the two allies closer together in three areas: policies, programmes and governance.
“We are working to establish the deepest possible partnership, the closest form of cooperation short of membership, taking into account our geographical circumstances, with Canada becoming the European Union’s first associate member,” Carney said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who surprised EU capitals in September by proposing that Canada become the bloc’s first associate member, once again defended her initiative, which had not been widely discussed with member states beforehand.
Germany continues to strongly oppose the term “associate member”, arguing that it has no legal basis. Consequently, the final text issued after the meeting refers to an “ever closer association” rather than “associate membership”.
“The concept of associate membership is uncharted territory, but we have the ambition, the confidence and the creativity to shape it together. And let me be absolutely clear: this partnership is not directed against anyone else; it is about strengthening our shared power. In bilateral relations, this will be the highest form of partnership,” von der Leyen said.
