Canada spat exposes widening rift between Merz and von der Leyen

A disagreement over the term "associate member" for Canada's relationship with the EU is causing tensions between Ursula von der Leyen and Friedrich Merz. Berlin opposes von der Leyen's proposal, which she promoted at a summit despite its removal from a joint statement. This clash reflects a broader divide on EU governance, with Berlin demanding budget cuts and rejecting von der Leyen's security proposals. Both sides agree on the need for a unique partnership with Canada, but differ on the implications of the associate member status, which von der Leyen suggests would not apply to Ukraine. The dispute highlights the ongoing debate about the balance between EU institutions and national governments.