At the end of last week, EU Commissioner President von der Leyen, Council President Antonio Costa and High Representative Kaja Kallas travelled to Montreal Canada to lay the groundwork for the EU’s special relationship with Canada.
In September, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the European Parliament and announced that Canada was to be an “Associate Member” of the EU.
Canada and the EU signed an agreement describing it as a document for an “Alliance for the future” but there is no mention of “Associate membership”.
Instead, the statement refers to a process leading to an ever closer association between Canada and the EU, short of full membership. However, Carney reiterated that Canada was working towards becoming the EU’s first Associate Member, with the substance, scale and scope of this new form of membership still to be determined over the coming months.
The agreement includes a treaty framework involving the European Investment Bank (EIB), which would allow the bank to operate in Canada and invest in critical-minerals, including exploration, mining, processing and recycling. There is also agreement on further cooperation on Canadian gas purchases, border control, security and technology such as AI.
Another agreement was signed by High Representative Kaja Kallas and Canada’s Foreign Minister, Anita Anand. The agreement concerns the establishment and privileges and immunities of the EU delegation in Canada, bringing the status of the EU delegation and its officials closer to that granted to diplomatic missions and their staff.
In her press conference with Canada’s Prime Minister, the Commission President said countries outside Europe can’t join the European Union, but we can create a common framework based on common interests and goals with the new concept of associate membership.
The EU is also pursuing closer cooperation with Canada through its Galileo satellite navigation programme, including negotiations on Canadian access to Galileo services. The partnership could improve positioning and navigation capabilities across Canada and the Arctic. Canada is also set to participate in the EU’s €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan.
Link to press conference here.
Newsroom
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