Leaders of the European Union and Canada are expected to meet at a special Canada-EU summit to discuss crucial policies such as artificial intelligence (AI), climate, energy and security.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday, ahead of the summit that begins Friday, that the EU would continue to explore opportunities for Canada to become the bloc’s first “associate member.”
But despite his comments, the summit declaration is expected to exclude the term “associate member”, a move pushed by Germany and other members.
“Our idea is simple: it is an association without membership,” said Von der Leyen. “We can build a partnership closer to membership than anything we have done before.”
“We both want to take our relationship to the highest possible level,” added von der Leyen.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said this week that he was not concerned about the status of “associate member”, nor about the “specific names” to give to the new alliance with the EU.
“What matters is the difference this will make in the lives of Canadians,” Carney added.
Canada’s ties with EU are part of broader strategy, expert tells DW
Ottawa’s quest for deeper ties with Europe is seen as a move to reduce its dependence on the United States since President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on a range of Canadian goods.
Frédéric Merand, a political expert on EU-Canada relations at the University of Montreal, told DW how the summit serves as a “political impetus” to improve bilateral trade relations and free Canada from its dependence on the United States.
“It’s not going to happen overnight. And every time we get closer to the Europeans, we realize how dependent we are on the United States and how vulnerable we are also, for example, to our retaliation,” Merand said.
But he added that courting the EU is also part of a broader strategy “to reinvent the Canadian economy, create a single market, attract more investment,” as well as diversify our partnerships with China, India and other parts of the world.
The EU is “a natural partner” to work with, Merand said, given its existing free trade agreement with Canada, in addition to the close historical and cultural ties between the two partners.
What is the summit program?
An EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Canada and the EU were seeking to align policies in areas such as climate, energy and artificial intelligence, allowing Ottawa to participate in some EU programs.
Canada has critical minerals needed for green technologies such as batteries and wind turbines, for which Europe normally relies on China.
But Canada needs major investments in infrastructure to grow its mining industry.
It is hoped the summit can produce a plan for the European Investment Bank to support Canada’s critical mining projects.
EU and Canadian leaders are also exploring the possibility of a digital trade deal that would enable faster and cheaper online transactions.
Additionally, Canada could be allowed to participate in the EU’s Erasmus youth program, which allows university students to spend a semester abroad.
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