EU Removes Canada 'Associate Member' Status From Draft Summit Text

The European Union removed the phrase 'associate member' from a draft joint statement with Canada on Thursday. The change follows reports that several EU leaders pushed to delete the term to finalize the text ahead of a summit in Montreal.

German news agency dpa and Reuters reported that the draft no longer contains the words 'associate member' or 'associated membership.' Officials plan to release the final statement publicly on Friday. The decision resolves a point of contention that had divided negotiations among the 27 member states.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen first proposed the associate status in September. She suggested Canada become the bloc's first associate member as both sides sought to reduce reliance on the United States. The idea gained traction during a period when both regions looked to strengthen transatlantic ties.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other leaders argued against the specific label. Citing diplomats, reports indicated that Merz and fellow leaders believed the term created unnecessary friction. They preferred broader language that described the relationship without defining a formal membership category.

The revised draft now calls for an 'ever closer association' between the two parties. It outlines a joint initiative to improve international connectivity between Europe, Canada, and Asia using new subsea cable infrastructure. The text also proposes a feasibility study on Canadian liquefied natural gas exports to Europe and measures to allow young people to work across the Atlantic.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hosts the summit in Montreal, which began on Thursday. Carney has worked to deepen ties with the EU, Canada's second-largest trading partner, since US tariffs disrupted trade with Ottawa's largest economic partner. He told reporters on Tuesday that the summit would launch formal negotiations expected to last another year.

Carney addressed the terminology shift directly. He stated that the good news was that specific names or nomenclature did not matter. He added that what matters is the difference the agreement will make to the lives of Canadians. Donald Trump previously called the EU's associate member proposal laughable and warned the US might stop trading with Europe on many things if he viewed the move as a hostile act.