The European Union is set to meet with Canada to discuss further cooperation, including whether the country will become an ‘associate member’ or deepen ties so both can be less dependent on the United States.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Montreal for a two-day bilateral meeting that should prepare the stage for the next level of cooperation between Ottawa and Brussels.
Von der Leyen said Canada will become an associated member of the EU, but that doesn’t seem likely at the moment. Some member states, including prominent ones like France and Germany, don’t seem keen on this terminology. However, whatever they call it, Canada and the EU want to deepen cooperation in several areas.
For Canada and Carney, the EU is important for diversifying Canada’s economy, which is very dependent on the US. The mercurial presidency of Donald Trump drove a wedge between the two North American countries, with Trump threatening and implementing multiple tariff hikes on Canada and even proposing to make Canada the 51st state. Carney stood firm against Trump’s posturing and worked to strengthen ties with Europe.
The EU faces a similar conundrum and, like Canada, is still too dependent on Washington to risk a rupture, but the bloc is slowly working toward a future with less reliance on the US. This summit is seen as a way to launch a framework, dubbed the “Alliance for the Future”, that should form the basis for future collaboration. Possible proposals include regular meetings between Canadian ministers and European commissioners, and more opportunities for students and researchers as part of Erasmus+.
Carney is aware of the possible issues both domestic and for the EU. “It doesn’t matter about specific names or nomenclature,” he stressed. “What matters is the difference that it will make to the lives of Canadians, young Canadians in terms of opportunities to study, work and travel, our Canadian businesses in terms of new opportunities, Canadian researchers in terms of depths of opportunity, and Canada as a whole becoming a more independent, more sovereign nation, so we can live our lives as we choose.”
The new cooperation won’t make Canada a full member, something Carney also ruled out. Full membership would also mean following European rules and regulations in several key industries, plus contributing to the EU budget.
From the European side, some issues remain over possible contributions in the defence sector. Canada is the only non-European country participating in the EU’s 150-billion-euro SAFE defence procurement programme and can take part in joint military purchases; it is currently considering ordering Sweden’s Saab Gripen as an alternative to American F-35 jets. However, France is pushing for a very strict Made in Europe system for future defence purchases that would be at odds with Canada’s presence.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
