EU nations balk at ‘associate member’ label for Canada ahead of summit: reports

A divide over how far the EU should go in formalizing its relationship with Canada has emerged ahead of a summit in Montreal this week. Photo by Aleksandra Aleshchenko /Getty Images/iStockphoto

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When a joint Canada-European Union statement is issued at their summit kicking off in Montreal on Thursday, there’ll be no mention of “associate membership,” according to reports.

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Instead, the statement will call for “ever closer associations” between Canada and the 27-member bloc, “short of full membership itself,” Politico reported Wednesday.

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Germany, France and Greece, while broadly supporting closer ties with Ottawa, all objected to the use of “associate member” in draft versions, Euronews had earlier reported.

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“The main concern is that this is unknown terminology, it might bring up legal uncertainty and expectations from other third countries,” an unnamed diplomat said.

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Last month, during a State of the Union address in Strasbourg, France, where Carney was the guest of honour, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed that Canada become an “associated member” of the EU, a term that doesn’t legally exist within the enclave. The idea was presented as a way to build a deeper partnership with a country that shares Europe’s democratic values and strategic concerns but has no intention of outright bloc membership.

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Four European diplomats said von der Leyen put it forward without first consulting European capitals, Politico reported at the time.

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Other EU diplomats warned that introducing a class of membership without a clear definition could create legal uncertainty, raise expectations among other countries seeking closer ties with Europe and complicate the EU’s existing arrangements with potential member nations.

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Matthias Lüttenberg, Germany’s ambassador to Canada, told CTV his country has used “associate membership” to describe the EU’s relationship with Ukraine and Moldova, two countries striving for full membership.

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Matthias Lüttenberg, German ambassador to Canada. Photo by Gavin Young/Postmedia

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In May, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed associate membership for Ukraine as an interim step to full membership that he said could help end the war with Russia, Reuters reported.

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“What we have in front of us is something which is not clearly understood by all member states,” Lüttenberg said, suggesting all 27 member nations need “some time to reflect.”

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“I think we have been a little surprised by the announcement, which doesn’t mean that we cannot agree on it.”

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During a media briefing Tuesday, European officials said member nations are united in the ambition of Canada as an “associate member,” but admitted there is some division over the terminology, per Bloomberg.

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Outside of “associate membership,” which is being explored only with Canada in mind, the officials also said talks could result in an “alliance of the future” — a broader framework the EU could extend to other countries that want closer ties without full membership.