Carney Targets June to Finalize Canada's EU Associate Membership
The Canadian prime minister announced the timeline despite the term being absent from the joint declaration signed in Montreal.
By Fatou Mitchell ·
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on Friday that he expects to conclude negotiations with the European Union by June. The deal would make Canada the first associate member of the bloc. This designation stops short of full membership.
The joint declaration issued at the end of a two-day summit in Montreal did not use the phrase associate member. Instead, the leaders agreed to define an ever-closer association by their next summit in 2027. Carney said he will attend a meeting of European leaders in June to finish the talks.
"In parallel, we are working towards the deepest possible partnership, short of accession, with Canada becoming the European Union’s first Associate Member," Carney said.
European Council President António Costa described the alliance as the closest relationship the EU has ever established with a country outside the bloc. He noted that cooperation will expand on trade, research, and security. This expansion comes as trade war tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump strain relations with traditional allies.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that shared values matter more than geography. "It is not so important where the countries are on the map," she said. "What is important are the values that a country defends and where countries stand in international relations." Von der Leyen has pushed for the associate member title despite resistance from some European governments.
Carney said the alliance would strengthen sovereignty and help both regions withstand economic shocks. He added that the deal would make life more affordable, give consumers more choices, and create opportunities for businesses and researchers. Von der Leyen said the two sides are creating a common space with other partners to address challenges in critical minerals, supply chains, artificial intelligence, and space.
The leaders are scheduled to announce a digital trade agreement on Friday. They will also unveil initiatives for scientific research partnerships and university student exchanges. Von der Leyen said the sides will finalize an agreement giving Canadian companies access to Europe’s supercomputers for artificial intelligence development. Trump suggested the arrangement could be a hostile act and threatened tariffs on Europe. The United States accounted for 71.7% of Canada’s merchandise exports in 2025.
