European Union and Canada abandoned a proposal to grant Canada associate membership in a joint declaration ahead of a Montreal summit, despite earlier discussions. The move comes as Canada seeks to diversify its trade relationships amid tensions with the US over tariffs.
Canada and the EU agreed to 'ever closer association' but dropped the contentious idea of associate membership, with Germany leading opposition to the term due to lack of legal clarity. The revised declaration focuses on strengthening ties through economic and strategic cooperation.
The declaration includes initiatives to improve international connectivity, support joint research, and enhance collaboration on issues like AI and security. However, the EU and Canada's stance risks angering the US, which has already criticized the move as provocative.
EU officials described the summit as a 'historic milestone' aimed at reinforcing the partnership, while Canada's Prime Minister emphasized the practical benefits of closer ties for Canadians, despite the unresolved terminology issue.