According to The Guardian and Reuters, the new draft envisions the EU and Canada working on determining the concept of an increasingly close relationship until their 2027 summit.
The proposal for associate status was submitted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leeyen, in her speech on the Union’s situation last month. However, the initiative met with opposition from several European capitals, including Berlin, Paris, Rome and Athens.
Concerns related to the fact that associate membership status is not defined in EU treaties, while its legal implications remain unclear and the way Canada could be included in union institutions and decision-making processes.
Germany has rejected using this term, arguing that such status should be linked to countries aimed at full EU membership, such as Ukraine and Montenegro.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has stressed that, for his country, concrete benefits from co-operation, not the appointment of relations with the EU.
The EU Summit is held in Montreal on October 29th and 30th, with the aim of deepening co-operation in trade, energy, defence, early critical materials and digital technology.
Access to Europe is part of Canada’s efforts to diversify economic partnerships and reduce dependence on the United States at a time of commercial tension between Otawa and Washington.
Source Layer: RTKLive