Canada-EU summit: What is proposed through new ‘associate member’ status?

A two-day summit between Canada and the EU took place in Montreal last week, as the two seek deeper relations and the possible creation of the EU’s first ‘associate member’ state.

Efforts by European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen to push for the new status at the summit has led to backlash from several member states, most notably Germany. 

Documents relating to the summit show a softening of their language, highlighting instead the “ever closer association” between the states but not explicitly a new status for the relationship between Canada and the EU.

However, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said after the conference that he is planning to make Canada the first EU ‘associate member’. 

Leaders on both sides have said the change in name will not alter agreements planned between the two at the summit.

The summit focused on new partnerships on agreements in defence, trade, business, and Canada joining an EU aid scheme for Ukraine.

What is an associate member? 

Little is known about what an ‘associate member’ of the EU would look like, because this is an entirely new concept. 

Canada and the EU have had a close but unremarkable relationship since the bloc’s inception.

However, a changing geopolitical situation has seen both states seek new allies in recent years. 

For Canada, a move away from any reliance on the United States has become a staple of the country’s foreign relations since the second term of US President Donald Trump, following repeated threats – glib or otherwise – to annex Canada and turn it into a US state. 

Likewise, the EU sees Canada as a valuable counterweight against fractious relations with the US, a partner to defend Arctic territories and an ally rich in mineral resources, potentially a source of gas and oil not originating from Russia or the Middle East.

In September, Ms Von der Leyen announced plans to make Canada an ‘associate member’ of the EU during a meeting at the European Parliament, after which Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had praised the deepening relationship between the two states.

The announcement was met with criticism from many, including EU allies in her home country of Germany. 

Critics of the measure pointed out it could make negotiations with Ukraine – currently aiming for full EU membership alongside several other countries such as Montenegro, Georgia, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina – more difficult.

These countries could be angered if Canada was approved for this new status without having to undergo the rigorous political and economic criteria required for new member states. 

There was also the question of the EU’s relationship with other European countries such as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and various microstates, which have deep ties with the EU but are not official members.

In addition, the bloc already has ‘associate agreements’ with around 20 additional countries.

Ms Von der Leyen persisted, however, and initially planned to explore the announcement of ‘associate membership’ for Canada at the summit, before being convinced otherwise. 

Following the summit, Mr Carney said he was unequivocally looking to move forward with the status, planning to begin negotiations next March.

“We are working toward the deepest possible partnership, short of accession because of our geography, with Canada becoming the European Union's first associate member,” he said following the summit.

“Over the coming months, we will determine the substance, scale and scope of this form of membership.”

In June 2027, Mr Carney will join a meeting with the European Council aimed at finalising the framework of the plans, and the exact details. 

The Canadian parliament will ratify the agreement through a vote after this, although current opinion polls suggest the majority of Canadians support the closer relationship.

So, is anything changing?

In practice, the exact status of Canada as an associate member will not be known until at least March, when the two begin to work together to carry out a legal framework.

Regardless of the official terminology given to the relationship, it would be a much-watered down version of agreements between the EU and other European countries such as Norway. 

Indeed, there is currently no outline for what an ‘associate member’ deal looks like, if it could be transposed onto other agreements between the EU and third nations, and if participation would see any legitimate changes to political structures in either state.

Canadian officials have said they will not pay a membership fee or pay into the bloc, outside of existing agreements on certain programmes.

In turn, they will not receive EU funding for projects, nor will they join the EU’s single market – confirmed by Mr Carney – and a customs union agreement also seems unlikely.

However, plans to make business flow more smoothly between the two countries are being considered.

Canada recently signed a defence deal that gave its companies procurement access to the EU's Security and Defence Partnership, and further ties in defence are possible.

In May, an agreement between Canada and Germany to send frequent shipments of liquefied natural gas to the latter was signed. 

Canada views stability in Europe as an important geopolitical goal, providing a stable market for goods including energy products and rare minerals, and the EU is looking for new ways to obtain vital fuel for the bloc.

Canada could join several possible EU schemes that would benefit both Canada and EU member states, although it is not clear what costs or obstacles there may be. There is no outline for what schemes are being considered.

Freedom of movement between the EU and Canada is not expected to be part of the deal, however plans to make it easier for students to study in each state are said to be on the agenda.

Younger Canadians, due to the country’s Franco-British heritage, already have a small number of additional benefits when it comes to moving to France. 

For example, Canadians are the only group who can extend a working holiday visa in France for a second year – for all other eligible citizens this is limited to a maximum of 12 months. 

Is associate membership being considered for the UK? 

There has also been talk that the new membership status, if created, could be a way for the UK to seek deeper ties with the EU without committing to rejoining the bloc. 

This remains hypothetical, based on the nature of the summit and the future of Canadian relations with the bloc, as well as the UK’s own plans for its relationship with the EU. 

European and British politicians have recently welcomed the idea of the UK rejoining the EU, but have cautioned this should come as a full reintegration into the bloc. 

It is possible that some countries would be against offering any partial status to the UK without seeing them fully rejoin the bloc. 

In September, a senior EU official told media outlet Politico that ‘associate membership’ status would not be offered to any European country, as their geographical location makes them potential full candidates of the bloc. 

“Unlike Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Norway and the U.K., Canada is not in Europe,” the official said.

“It cannot join the EU. Norway shouldn’t be looking at this and thinking ‘oh we want more.’ This isn’t for them. Their route to that is to join the EU. Same for the UK.”