EU states drop Canada associate membership plan before Montreal summit
Briefing by News4U · First published
EU governments blocked Ursula von der Leyen's bid to make Canada an associate member ahead of the Montreal summit, seeking closer ties without that status.
European Union member states have blocked a proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to grant Canada special status as an "associate member," DW reported. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other leaders pushed the term out of a draft declaration ahead of a two-day EU-Canada summit beginning Thursday in Montreal. [1]
Germany, France and Italy raised objections because existing EU treaties do not provide for such a status, though they still support closer cooperation with Canada. The revised declaration, approved Wednesday evening and due out Friday, calls for closer ties without membership. [1]
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, hosting talks with von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, played down the wording dispute over the summit declaration. [1]
Sources
- Germany and other EU countries block von der Leyen's plan to give Canada 'associate membership'
DW English · · Full text