EU and Canada in alliance: “As deep as possible”
The EU and Canada are set to deepen their cooperation and work together across a range of areas—with the goal of Canada becoming an “associate member” next year. This was stated by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during a meeting with top EU officials.
As part of this new cooperation, Canada will contribute to the EU’s emergency loan package for Ukraine, which amounts to over 1 trillion Swedish kronor.
Mark Carney stated that he expects negotiations between the EU and Canada to be concluded during a summit with European leaders in June.
“In parallel with this, we are working toward a partnership that will be as deep as possible,” he said during a joint press briefing in Montreal, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa.
Trade and security
In addition to supporting Kyiv, the two sides will also cooperate more closely on issues including trade, research, and security, Costa noted.
At the press conference, Ursula von der Leyen reiterated a previous sentiment—that no country outside of Europe is as “European” as Canada—and emphasized that the Union wishes to forge even closer ties with the nation.
“A partnership that comes closer to membership (in the EU) than ever before,” she said.
However, the exact nature of this closer relationship—and what being an “associate member” entails—has yet to be finalized. “Over the coming months, we will determine the substance, scope, and weight of this type of membership,” says Carney.
Unclear meaning
The joint statement released by the parties on Friday evening makes no mention of the contentious term “associate membership.” Instead, it indicates that the leaders have agreed to reach an accord on an “ever-closer membership” at their next meeting in 2027.
Among EU member states, the term “associate membership” has sparked both confusion and irritation—not least because it remains unclear what it actually entails.
This move toward closer ties between the EU and Canada comes at a time marked by the trade war initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, which has strained relations with long-standing allies.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar