EU sets out vision for 'associate membership' for Canada at Montreal summit

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has set out her vision for a new "associate membership" for Canada, as leaders gather in Montreal for a two-day summit on closer ties between Canada and the European Union.

She described it as "a partnership that comes close to membership than anything we have done before", open "only to our closest partners outside of Europe who are ready to open a new frontier together".

What it could mean

The relationship would include close alignment on governance and policies, and partnership in research and innovation. Officials on both sides have suggested it could bring closer business ties and allow more students to study on either side of the Atlantic.

Canada does not plan to pay a membership fee like EU nations do. Instead, it is looking at taking part in EU programmes that would benefit both sides. Canadian officials also expect agreements on defence, critical minerals, research and trade over the two days.

A summit with more attention than usual

Canada-EU summits have taken place for decades without much fanfare, but this year's meeting is being closely watched. Von der Leyen first proposed "opening the door" to Canada last month, after Prime Minister Mark Carney told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that Canada and Europe were "stronger together" in the face of "geopolitical rupture".

Since taking office, Carney has moved Canada closer to Europe as his country deals with a trade war with the United States, its largest trading partner.

Not everyone agrees on the name

Many EU member states welcome closer ties, but not all are comfortable with the term "associate membership". Germany has questioned it, with its ambassador to Canada, Matthias Lüttenberg, saying Germany has been using the term for "something completely different", namely the EU's relationship with Ukraine and potentially Moldova.

Despite the disagreement over wording, both sides say they are fully committed to deepening ties. "The wording is emblematic of the ambition," one senior Canadian official said.

Polls show most Canadians support closer ties with Europe, although the Conservative opposition has called the effort a distraction from the cost of living.

Why it matters here

The UK has its own close relationship with Canada, a fellow Commonwealth member with deep family and business links to Britain. Closer co-operation between Canada and Europe on trade, defence and research is likely to be watched with interest in the UK, including in Birmingham, which will soon have its own direct flights to Toronto.