The 21st summit meeting between the EU and Canada will start today in Montreal, Canada, hosted by Prime Minister Mark Carney. The EU side will be represented by EU Council President Antonio Costa and EU Commission President von der Leyen.
The two-day summit will discuss trade and economic relations, defense and security cooperation, critical raw materials, digital technologies, research and innovation, and the development of strategic partnerships.
The summit is particularly important as it was held after von der Leyen proposed to the European Parliament last month that Canada be presented with the perspective of becoming the first "associate member" of the EU.
The feasibility of the joint membership model and whether the proposal will turn into a concrete initiative are among the main issues of curiosity before the summit.
The summit is being held at a time when Canada is diversifying its relations with Europe in order to reduce its dependence on the USA in the fields of economy and security.
Canada has become the first non-European country to join the EU's 150 billion euro Security Action in Europe (SAFE) defense financing mechanism, while also expanding cooperation in the field of defense industry with European countries.
Canada's application to join the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) and its military procurement negotiations with European-based defense companies are among the examples of this rapprochement.
According to information received from sources who will attend the meetings, the parties are expected to launch the "Alliance for the Future" initiative, which envisages closer cooperation in the fields of economic security, trade and defense, at the summit.
Including the "joint membership" perspective in the joint declaration expected to be published after the talks is also on the agenda.
However, due to differences of opinion among EU member states regarding the legal scope and implementation of the proposal, a final decision on this issue is not expected.
The lack of a defined status under the name "associate membership" in the current founding treaties of the EU causes some member states to have reservations.
A group of countries, including Germany, Italy, Greece and France, object to the inclusion of the phrase "associate membership" in the EU-Canada joint declaration.
Instead, the focus is on a proposal to use softer language promising "an increasingly closer partnership."
It was learned that the previous draft of the joint declaration included the statement: "The EU and Canada will work to define a concept of 'joint membership' that will reflect efforts and cooperation towards our common goals such as prosperity, economic security and strategic autonomy by the 2027 EU-Canada Summit."
"Unanimity will be required among member states"
Prof. Director of the International Law Institute of the Center for Global Governance Studies at KU Leuven University in Belgium. Dr. Jan Wouters made evaluations to the AA correspondent about the possible results of the summit.
Wouters, who is currently a visiting professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, stated that some member countries, especially Germany, have serious reservations about the proposal, but he said that despite this, he thinks that support for the idea of joint membership continues.
"The likely compromise would be to make no decision at this stage, but instead to clarify and develop the concept, then decide at the summit in Brussels next year," Wouters said. he said.
Reminding that there is no associate membership status in the EU treaties yet, Wouters pointed out that similar models are implemented in other international organizations.
Wouters said, "The real issue is what form this status will be given under EU law. I think this will be at the center of the discussions until next year's summit." shared his opinion.
Noting that this model can be evaluated not only for Canada but also for the UK, Australia, New Zealand and some candidate countries in the EU accession process, Wouters said, "We will need unanimity among the member countries to develop the concept of joint membership." he said.
Expectations for progress in the digital trade agreement
Wouters stated that one of the concrete results of the summit could be in the field of digital trade and pointed out that the negotiations between the parties are at an advanced stage.
"I think the digital trade agreement will be decided at the summit because the negotiations seem to be quite advanced." Wouters said that the Erasmus+ program and cooperation in the field of space could also be included in the joint declaration.
Touching on the problems experienced in the approval process of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed between the EU and Canada in 2016, Wouters explained that the agreement was implemented temporarily because it has not yet been approved by some member countries.
Wouters stated that the new digital trade agreement is aimed to be concluded only at the EU level to avoid similar delays.
"Canada and the EU have a lot to offer each other"
Wouters explained that Prime Minister Carney is making intense efforts to expand his country's foreign relations beyond the United States.
Stating that Carney aims to establish a stable, deep and comprehensive partnership with Europe, Wouters said, "Canada and the EU have a lot to offer each other." made his assessment.
However, noting that each side has its own political and institutional challenges, Wouters pointed out the 27-member structure of the EU and Canada's federal system consisting of strong provinces.
Wouters stated that Canada's rapprochement with the EU may bring about sovereignty debates within the country, and that the harmonization of standards and regulations between the two parties will be an important issue in the future.
Regarding US President Donald Trump's reaction to the rapprochement, Wouters shared that he did not expect a major decision to come out of the summit, such as the declaration of Canada's associate membership, and therefore the developments may have limited repercussions in Washington.
