Canada and the European Union agreed to an “ever closer partnership” but abandoned the controversial idea of associate membership of the EU in a joint statement seen by Reuters ahead of a summit in Montreal hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that begins on Thursday. The statement, which officials plan to make public on Friday, said work to define the relationship between Canada and the EU would continue until another summit next year. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s suggestion of associate membership six weeks ago had been a divisive issue in negotiations between EU countries over the summit declaration, with Germany leading a group that argued they could not sign up to a concept that had no legal status and had not been developed, diplomats said. Deeper ties with Europe are an important part of Carney’s strategy to reduce Canada’s economic and security dependence on the United States since President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods. Still, Canada’s efforts to reach out to the EU risk angering Trump as trade talks between Canada and the United States continue. There is no precedent or legal definition for an “associate member” of the EU. To display this YouTube content, you must enable ad tracking and audience measurement. OK Manage my options One of your browser extensions appears to be blocking the video player from loading. To view this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again Featured image: TALK ABOUT EUROPE © FRANCE 24 Trump previously called the EU proposal to make Canada an associate member “laughable” and said that if he interpreted the move as a “hostile act,” the United States could stop trading with Europe “on a lot of things.” Carney told reporters Tuesday that this week’s summit is the launch of new formal negotiations that will last another year. “The good news is that specific names or nomenclature don’t matter,” Carney said. “What matters is the difference it will make in the lives of Canadians.” An earlier draft statement included at least two references to Canada as an associate member, including an acknowledgment that defining the term would take another year. The statement includes a joint initiative to improve international connectivity between Europe, Canada and Asia through “new submarine cable infrastructure.” It also proposes conducting a joint feasibility study on Canadian exports of liquefied natural gas to Europe and allowing young Canadians and Europeans to work across the Atlantic. To display this YouTube content, you must enable ad tracking and audience measurement. OK Manage my options One of your browser extensions appears to be blocking the video player from loading. To view this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again Cover image: PEOPLE AND PROFITS © FRANCE 24 Julian Karaguesian, a former adviser to Canada’s Ministry of Finance, described the summit as “kind of a spectacle”. “Canada’s effort to be a closer friend of the EU is very ill-defined,” he said, adding that greater collaboration with the EU would not necessarily address Carney’s push to diversify the country’s relations. Canada sends almost 70% of its exports to the United States, while the EU accounts for about 9% of Canada’s total trade. Carney’s office declined to comment. ‘Highly provocative’ statement The statement says European and Canadian leaders are committed to reaffirming their commitment to a rules-based international order and that they “deeply regret” the sanctions the United States imposed on the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court. “All this talk about multilateralism and support for international law is basically sticking a finger in President Trump’s eye,” said Barry Appleton, an international trade lawyer and fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo, Ont. Read moreFrance and Germany seek a new EU rapid response tool against trade threats. Appleton said the fact that Canada and the EU agree to work closely on economic security measures could anger the United States. He added that the statement commits Canada to making its digital and artificial intelligence standards work alongside those of Europe, when Washington views EU-style digital regulation as a trade barrier. “This is a very provocative statement from the EU and Canada,” Appleton said. The White House said in response to a request for comment that U.S. and Canadian trade officials are talking. EU officials said in a briefing on Tuesday that the summit was a “historic milestone,” saying it was about renewing its commitment to Canada and shaping an ambitious new chapter in the partnership. They said all member states support the closest possible relationship with Canada. (FRANCE 24 with Reuters)