EU-Canada summit opens in Montreal as 'associate member' wording is dropped from draft declaration

The draft declaration, due to be published Friday, commits both sides to define an "ever closer association" by next year's summit instead of naming Canada an associate member, Reuters, via France 24, and Rapporteur reported. Diplomats said Germany led a group of EU countries that objected because the status has no legal definition or precedent.

Von der Leyen still pressed the idea in Montreal on Thursday, calling it "an association without accession," and Carney told business leaders Canada was forging an alliance "with Canada as an associate member," CBC News and AP reported. The draft also covers subsea cables, a study on Canadian LNG exports to Europe and support for Ukraine, the outlets reported.

Why it matters: Both sides want to reduce reliance on the United States amid U.S. tariffs, the outlets reported. President Donald Trump previously called the associate-member idea "laughable," according to Reuters.