EU chief continues to push making Canada an associate member despite objections
Carney says the name of alliance 'doesn't matter' as long as it delivers
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen continues to champion making Canada an associate member of the European Union, despite objections from members of the 27-member bloc.
asserted
Canada → continue → bloc
In a keynote speech in Montreal on Thursday morning, the head of the European Union's executive body renewed her pitch to carve out a partnership with Canada "that comes closer to membership than anything we've done before.
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we → renew → anything
"
Von der Leyen and other European Union officials are in Montreal for a two-day summit aimed at forging a new phase in the Canada-EU relationship, as they both seek to lessen dependence on the United States under an unpredictable and protectionist President Donald Trump.
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they → aim → Trump
"In a world of growing rivalries, sovereignty and independence are no longer just the freedom to act alone — it is the capacity to act together.
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it → grow → rivalries
And this is why we will build an alliance for the future," she said.
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she → build → future
"And we start with Canada."
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we → start → Canada
What to call that alliance has loomed over the gathering.
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call → call → gathering
The day before von der Leyen's speech, it was revealed the words "associate membership" were removed from the draft of a joint statement expected to be published on Friday and replaced with a commitment to an "ever closer association," as objections within the bloc percolate.
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objections → reveal → bloc
Why none of the EU's existing partnerships are the right fit for Canada
EU dropping associate membership title for its closer alliance with Canada
However, von der Leyen — who surprised many last month when she announced that the EU would begin the process of making Canada its first associate member — marched on with her vision in her Thursday speech.
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Canada → exist → speech
"It is an association without accession," she said.
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she → say → accession
The leader said becoming an associate member would see a close alignment on policies, including AI, climate, energy, security and governance.
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becoming → say → AI
"It means more work shared by the European Commission and the Canadian government," von der Leyen said, suggesting that could mean "parliament to parliament" and "court to court" co-operation.
uncertain
that → mean → court
As European Commission president, von der Leyen can advocate for policies but it's up to the bloc to decide what happens next.
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what → advocate → bloc
Sources speaking to CBC News said Germany in particular opposes the "associate member" term, calling it a red line.
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Germany → speak → it
Carney says the nomenclature doesn't matter.
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nomenclature → say → ?
The name doesn't matter," he told reporters during a news conference on Thursday.
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he → matter → Thursday
"What matters to Canadians ultimately from this new alliance is going to be affordability, it's going to be opportunity.
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it → matter → alliance
Opportunity for young Canadians, to live, travel, study.
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Canadians → live → ?
Opportunities for our researchers to plug into one of the most advanced research networks across a wide range of domains."
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researchers → plug → domains
Trump has threatened retaliation
Talk of making Canada an associate member has irked Trump, who previously said if he interpreted the move as a "hostile act," he might stop trading with Europe "on many things."
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he → threaten → things
It raises the question of whether the president will look unkindly at this week's gathering in Montreal.
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president → raise → Montreal
Asked Wednesday about the possibility of retaliation from Trump, a senior Canadian government official, speaking on background, told reporters the summit isn't directed against anyone but reflected deep interests between Canada and the EU.
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summit → ask → Canada
Carney government invests $1.6B in AI company
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government → invest → company
Over the course of the summit, the two sides are expected to continue talks on deepening trade, investment and security partnerships.
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sides → expect → partnerships
In their Thursday speeches both von der Leyen and Carney stressed the importance of collaborating on artificial intelligence.
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Leyen → stress → intelligence
On the sidelines of the summit, the prime minister announced plans to invest up to $1.6 billion in Cohere, the Toronto-based company specializing in generative AI.
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minister → announce → AI
"We're not waiting for the future of AI to be decided somewhere else by those we don't know or by whom we don't trust," said Carney.
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Carney → wait → whom
The version of the EU-Canada statement seen by CBC News also commits to reinforcing "a predictable trade environment, deepening collaboration in the Arctic, countering foreign information manipulation and interference and continued support for Ukraine."
Both sides are also promising to launch negotiations toward deeper participation in Erasmus, the European Union's student and youth exchange program.
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sides → see → Erasmus
A source speaking to CBC News on the condition they not be named says this statement is now finalized by EU member countries, but Canada could still ask for changes before the summit wraps on Friday.
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summit → speak → Friday
Canada's Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre called the summit a "grand theatrical meeting to sign a bunch of meaningless declarations filled with big words.
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Poilievre → call → words
"
"No one's mortgage or grocery bill will come down," he posted on social media.
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he → come → media
"Get EU countries to let our beef into the continent and cancel their planned carbon tariff on Canada.
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beef → get → Canada
Both are running out."
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Both → run → ?
The Aporia
