Von der Leyen, C.D., ahead of the EU-Canada Summit in Montreal. He spoke on EU-Canada relations at the Howe Institute.
Emphasizing that Canada and the EU are two complementary systems, von der Leyen said, "Of course, Canada cannot be a full member of the EU for geographical reasons. However, we both want to take our relations to the highest possible level. For this reason, we are discussing the idea of Canada becoming the first 'associate member' of the European Union." he said.
Von der Leyen explained the relationship model they envisage: "Our idea is simple; we evaluate the partnership without membership, not the membership process. However, we can replace membership with a common goal and vision. We can establish a partnership that comes closer to membership than anything we have done so far." He explained it with his words.
Regarding how to achieve this goal, von der Leyen said, "So how will we achieve this? First, it means closer alignment in policies. We can work in every field, from artificial intelligence and climate to energy and security. You name it. Secondly, it means close alignment in governance. It means more joint work between the European Commission and the Canadian government. For example, cooperation can also be between our two parliaments and the courts. Thirdly, it means closer alignment with each other's programs." he said.
Stating that they will deepen Canada's participation in Europe's Erasmus program and provide opportunities for more young people to come together and learn from each other, von der Leyen noted that they are working to strengthen the country's participation in the new generation Horizon Europe program so that researchers and scientists can work together and develop innovation.
Touching on the scope of the joint membership approach, von der Leyen said:
"In summary, joint membership means this and much more. It will be open only to our closest partners outside Europe; those who are ready to open new horizons together, chart the course together and think beyond the framework of our current partnership to the most ambitious relationship we can build together. I must say that I cannot think of a better partner than Canada to embark on this very journey with us."
Objection from some member states to the "associate membership" proposal
Von der Leyen first presented the proposal to grant "associate membership" status to Canada to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in her State of the Union speech in Strasbourg last month.
A group of EU countries, including Germany, Italy, Greece and France, oppose the use of the phrase "associate membership" in the joint statement of the summit in Montreal. Some member states state that von der Leyen did not consult them before bringing the proposal to the agenda.
Following the objections, it was claimed that the final version of the joint statement draft included the phrase "closer partnership" instead of "joint membership". Accordingly, the draft envisaged defining the framework of a closer partnership relationship, more limited than full membership, until the 2027 EU-Canada Summit.
The EU Commission announced that work on the proposal would continue despite the objections. Commission Spokesperson Paula Pinho stated that they continue to work intensively with member countries on the necessary framework for joint membership.
In her social media post after arriving in Montreal, Von der Leyen reiterated her goal of bringing Canada closer than ever to the Union as an associate member of the EU.
