At Issue | Carney and EU struggle to define the relationship

As of October 30, 2026, the Canada-European Union summit concluded in Montreal without Canada becoming an "associate member" of the EU, as initially proposed. The draft declaration released prior to the summit dropped the term "associate member," focusing instead on closer strategic and economic ties between both parties. Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new partnership aimed at withstanding global trade tensions together, particularly those involving the United States and China. Key agreements included digital trade initiatives and academic exchanges to enhance cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence and critical minerals. The summit also saw discussions on increasing co-productions between Canada and Europe in film and television production, though issues around labour mobility still require further work.