Follow Ursula von der Leyen through DatelineHQ reporting. 3 reports with clear summaries and linked sources.
EU member states removed the term 'associate membership' from a draft EU-Canada summit declaration after objections from Germany and other countries. The revised text, approved Wednesday evening, commits to 'ever closer association' and an 'Alliance for the Future,' with the declaration expected Friday at the Montreal summit.
EU drops 'associate membership' for Canada after German-led objections ↗EU member states removed 'associate membership' from a draft summit declaration with Canada, replacing it with 'ever closer association' before the Montreal summit.
Canada hosts the 21st Canada-EU summit in Montreal on October 29-30, 2026, with trade, defence, energy, AI and a proposed EU associate membership on the agenda.
A leaked draft joint statement for the Montreal EU-Canada summit commits the two sides to define an ever closer association short of full membership by 2027.
