EU-Canada Montreal Summit Launches 'Alliance for the Future' but Drops 'Associate Member' Wording

The EU-Canada summit in Montreal closed on 30 October with an 'Alliance for the Future' pact and expanded cooperation on trade, energy, raw materials and emerging technologies. After objections from Germany, France, Italy and Greece, the joint declaration replaced 'associate membership' with 'an ever closer association of Canada to the EU, short of full membership'. Prime Minister Carney said Canada aims to conclude negotiations on associate membership by June 2027; the status has no basis in the EU treaties and would need all 27 member states' approval.