Handelsblatt1 hour agoOpinion1 min readGermany

Comment: The EU countries' fear of the unknown is too great

Ursula von der Leyen's plans for closer ties with Canada are encountering internal resistance within the EU.

Quick Look

Ursula von der Leyen's move to integrate Canada into the EU as an associated member is meeting with resistance from EU member states.
Despite a positive response to the idea of a closer partnership, countries like Germany blocked the official name request.

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Why It Matters

Ursula von der Leyen proposed in September that Canada become the first associated member of the EU. European leaders are looking for ways to reduce dependence on the United States.

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It is rare for anyone to be overwhelmed by emotion when it comes to the European Union. But it was Ursula von der Leyen, of all people, who was considered so controlled. As if out of nowhere, she announced at her State of the Union address in September that she wanted to make Canada the “first associated member” of the EU.

Mark Carney, Canada's Prime Minister, applauded on site in Strasbourg. And in the comment columns and on social media, things were surprisingly positive and emotional. Canada, the friendly North Americans as new partners – what could go wrong?

The EU gave itself the answer this week. Before the EU-Canada summit in Montreal, some member states, including Germany, blocked von der Leyen's request for a name for the geopolitical project.

European leaders like to look to Ottawa to see how they can parry Trump. Carney is extremely popular because he addresses what many people think: that you can no longer rely on the USA as a partner state. Officially, the EU leaders prefer to hold back from criticizing Trump and his policies in order not to risk new sanctions or punishments or other conflicts.

Open Questions

What will the official name of the partnership be?
What specific powers would an associate member have?