Carney seeks closer ties with EU as leaders drop associate membership proposal

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking closer ties with the European Union as he hosts European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa at a two-day summit in Montreal on October 29 and 30.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking closer ties with the European Union as he hosts European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa at a two-day summit in Montreal on October 29 and 30.

The summit comes as Canada seeks to reduce its economic reliance on the United States amid a trade dispute with US President Donald Trump. Closer cooperation with Europe is a key part of Carney’s strategy to diversify Canada’s trade and strengthen economic and security ties.

Von der Leyen proposed making Canada the EU’s first “associate member” in September, but the idea faced opposition from several member states, including France and Germany. The draft joint declaration has since dropped the term, instead pledging to pursue an “ever closer association” between the two sides.

Carney has said the terminology matters less than the practical benefits of closer cooperation. The two sides are expected to discuss trade, defence, critical minerals, energy, technology and opportunities for young people to live, work and study across the Atlantic.

Canada is not seeking full EU membership and will not pay the bloc’s standard membership contribution under the proposed arrangement. The details of the closer partnership are expected to be developed through negotiations over the coming year, with further progress anticipated at next year’s summit.

Canada has already secured access for its defence industry to the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, which supports investment in European defence production through joint procurement. In May 2026, Canada and Germany also signed an energy agreement concerning liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to Europe.