EU backs away from offer to Canada to start ‘associate member’ talks

The EU has retracted its offer to Canada for "associate membership" amid internal disagreements, leading to a revised statement emphasizing closer ties without full membership. Ursula von der Leyen's initial proposal surprised many and faced pushback from member states, particularly Germany, which argued that such status should be reserved for candidate countries. The revised draft aims to define a closer association by the next EU-Canada summit in 2027. Despite the setback, Canada seeks to strengthen economic ties with Europe, with potential benefits highlighted by a recent bank report. Prime Minister Mark Carney clarified that Canada is not pursuing formal EU membership, focusing instead on practical cooperation.