EU nations balk at 'associate member' label for Canada ahead of summit: reports - National Post
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/iStockphotoArticle contentWhen 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.
Instead, the statement will call for “ever closer associations” between Canada and the 27-member bloc, “short of full membership itself,” Politico reported Wednesday.
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.
“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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“Associate member” is also absent from a press release from European Council President António Costa, the council’s meeting agenda highlights and a statement from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Office.
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.
Four European diplomats said von der Leyen put it forward without first consulting European capitals, Politico reported at the time.
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.
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.
