EU dropping associate membership title for its closer alliance with Canada: Report
Member states objected to the label over legal concerns, and the draft now promises closer ties instead of formal associate membership.
- The European Union is removing the 'associate member' title from its draft joint declaration ahead of the 21st Canada-EU summit in Montreal on Thursday and Friday, replacing it with a commitment to 'ever closer association' with Canada.
- European Commission President Ursula proposed the 'associate member' status last month, but the designation faced objections from Germany, France, Italy, and Greece over legal and practical concerns.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz preferred reserving 'associate member' status for Ukraine to provide security guarantees; Berlin prioritized defining practical cooperation rather than adopting treaty-absent terms with potential legal implications.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney dismissed the nomenclature shift on Tuesday, saying 'The good news is it doesn't matter about specific names or nomenclature,' and emphasized Canada's goal of becoming more sovereign.
- The latest draft has been submitted for silent procedure and will be adopted unless a country objects later today, though sources stressed the EU-Canada document remains a draft and could change before week's end.
10 Articles
10 Articles
EU dropping associate membership title for its closer alliance with Canada: sources
A joint Canada-EU statement expected to be released on Friday is dropping the title of associate member and will instead use softer language promising closer ties, according to sources who have seen the latest draft of the statement.
A number of States of the European Union, including France and Germany, opposed the reference to Canada's status as an associate member of the association in a joint statement at the forthcoming summit, and the European Union rejected the idea of granting Canada associate membership. In a new version of the draft joint statement at the summit held on 29 and 30 October, this wording was replaced by a promise to create an "an even closer partnersh…
On the eve of the Montreal Summit, we are moving towards a compromise solution to the debate on Canada as an associated member of the EU. (ANSA)
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 34% of the sources lean Left, 33% of the sources are Center, 33% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
