As of Tuesday 27 October, European Union countries had not reached agreement on whether to offer Canada ‘associate member’ status. Several countries refused to approve a statement containing the wording.
As Politico writes, there are two days left until the EU–Canada summit in Montreal.
After EU countries failed on Monday, during talks between ambassadors, to agree the wording of the statement, on Tuesday they resorted to the so-called silent procedure. It provides that the new text will be adopted automatically without a formal meeting or vote if no country raises objections by midday.
However, Germany, which is insisting on the complete removal of the term ‘associate member’ from the text, became one of at least four countries that broke the silent procedure before the deadline. Two EU diplomats told the outlet.
This means the issue will be discussed on Wednesday at the next meeting of EU ambassadors — just one day before the EU–Canada summit begins.
The split shows how far from united the EU remains on the idea of ‘associate membership’.
Last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed such a status to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during her State of the European Union address in Strasbourg.
At the time, four EU diplomats told POLITICO that von der Leyen had not consulted member-state capitals before floating the idea.
Von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and ten European commissioners will travel to Montreal for the summit with Carney, which will take place on Thursday and Friday. Its aim is to deepen ties and cooperation in various areas, including trade, energy, education and the Arctic.
- In September, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Ottawa is seeking to create a ‘unique alliance’ with the European Union, but does not plan to join the bloc.
- Since taking office, Carney has been advancing a strategy aimed at building a “more independent and resilient economy” against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s increasingly hostile policy towards Canada.