EU considering Canada as ‘associate member’ despite internal opposition

AI Summary

The EU and Canada are exploring a new associate-member relationship, although several EU countries, including Germany, oppose the terminology. At a summit in Montreal, Ursula von der Leyen said the sides want closer cooperation on AI, climate, energy, and security.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday the EU and Canada continue to explore Canada becoming the union’s first “associate member”, a term so divisive among member countries that it does not appear in a joint declaration. The European Union and Canada aim to deepen cooperation on AI, climate, energy and security, von der Leyen said in a speech at a Canada-EU summit in Montreal. The ‌associate member term, which Germany and several other EU countries oppose, has no...