The Japan Times - EU, Canada to build 'new chapter' in alliance at Montreal summit

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen raised the prospect of Canada becoming the 27-nation bloc's first "associate member" last month.

The title doesn't exist in EU treaties, and some members successfully pushed to drop the term from a joint summit statement.

But von der Leyen used the term after landing in Montreal on Wednesday, saying the sides will "start discussing how to make Canada the first associate member of the EU."

"Our ambition is to build the closest partnership we have ever had with a non-European country," she added.

"A new chapter in our shared history starts in Montreal."

Canada and the EU have both been rattled by US President Donald Trump's second term.

Trump's tariffs have hammered key sectors of the Canadian economy, while the president's repeated threats to annex the US's northern neighbor have caused outrage.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the Trump administration sometimes signs deals "in pencil" and cannot be trusted to honor its commitments, telling Canadians that reducing dependence on the United States is an urgent priority.

"The world is more dangerous and divided. In response, Canada and the European Union are building on each other's strengths," Carney said ahead of the summit, promising "a new, ambitious alliance."

The EU has also faced US tariffs, and Trump and his top allies have piled criticism on European political leaders.

Von der Leyen said that in a time of growing geopolitical rivalry, the EU wants to deepen ties with "trusted partners."

"It feels only natural to start with Canada," she said.

- What could be agreed? -

The EU and Canada already share a free-trade pact, but it has not been fully implemented, and Canadian officials have said businesses are pursuing new opportunities in Europe to offset US tariff-related losses.

An EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the new Canadian partnership would align policies in areas such as climate, energy and artificial intelligence, allowing Ottawa to participate in some EU programs and creating a common governance structure.

That would build on the invitations Canada recently received to take part in EU summits and ministerial meetings.

Canada has huge stocks of the critical minerals needed for green technologies such as batteries and wind turbines that Europe currently sources mostly from China.

But Canada needs massive infrastructure investment to jump-start its mining industry. The summit could lead to an agreement allowing the European Investment Bank to back Canadian critical mineral projects.

A digital trade deal allowing faster and cheaper online transactions is expected to be unveiled in Montreal. An early draft joint statement envisaged deeper cooperation on both AI infrastructure and regulation.

Ottawa and Brussels are also understood to be working to have Canada participate in the EU's Erasmus youth program, which allows university students to spend a semester abroad, among other things.

Carney said this week he wasn't concerned about associate-member status, or "specific names or nomenclature" used to characterize the new alliance.

"What matters is the difference that it will make to the lives of Canadians," Carney said.

T.Sato--JT