The European Union has backed down from the proposal to start talks with Canada for associate membership in the bloc, following differences among member states, just ahead of the EU-Canada summit in Montreal.
Under a joint draft declaration, provided by The Guardian newspaper, the parties will not announce the launch of a work programme for developing the concept of associate membership. Instead, they aim to determine by the 2027 EU-Canada summit the concept of even closer co-operation without Canada’s full membership in the EU.
The issue began after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyeen surprised many last month, when during his speech on the European Union situation, she said the EU would consider the possibility of associate membership for Canada.
The proposal was described as an important development in EU history, as it would enable a country outside the bloc much closer to it. Since Croatia’s membership in 2013, The EU has not accepted any new state as a member.
The initiative was also seen as a sign that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s call, was producing results at the Davos summit in January, for medium powers to co-operate more closely.
However, Von der Leyeen’s proposal was met with reservations in several European capitals for both political and legal reasons. Since the status of associate membership does not have a clear definition in current EU treaties, diplomats questioned whether Canada could participate in the European Council, in lawmakers or in the bloc’s decision-making processes, even without the right to vote.
At a meeting Monday, ambassadors of member states discussed concerns over the proposal, while pledging to find a diplomatic solution to withdraw from the idea of associate membership without putting Von der Leyeen in a difficult position.
According to The Guardian, Italy suggested that social membership be maintained, as proposed by the European Commission, by leaving the member states with the definition of details. Meanwhile, Germany proposed a more limited formulation, referring to an increasingly close partnership of Canada with the EU.
No one has consulted for associate membership except for the closest circle of Von der Leyeen staff, apparently. Many member states, including Germany, were not satisfied. This is like fixing the plane while it’s on the flight, a diplomat told the British newspaper.
Germany has argued that the status of such membership should be maintained as a temporary step for candidate countries aimed at EU membership, such as Ukraine and Montenegro, stressing that this status has no formal basis in the bloc’s current treaties.
The proposal was also criticised earlier by US President Donald Trump, who had described it as funny. He had warned that if he interpreted this initiative as a hostile act, the US could stop trade with Europe for many products.
Meanwhile, the trade struggle with the US, Canada’s traditional ally, has prompted Prime Minister Carney to seek new trade partnerships worldwide.
Before the summit in Montreal, a Canadian bank report TD Economics estimated that Canada could benefit significantly from deepening economic relations with Europe. According to the report, removing trade barriers in areas of common interest, such as protection, energy, critical minerals and digital markets, could enable tens of billions of dollars in additional trade.
Carney has also spoken of the need for Canada to reduce dependence on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network, following a decision restricting its use in Ukraine.
Source Layer: Dukeagini