Germany and other EU countries ready to block von der Leyen's plan to give Canada 'associate membership'
www.dw.com
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to give Canada a special status within the EU. But Germany and other member states have raised objections ahead of a summit in Montreal.

European Union member states have blocked a proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to grant Canada a special status as an “associate member” of the bloc.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and several other EU leaders pushed to remove the term from a draft declaration ahead of a two-day EU-Canada summit beginning Thursday in Montreal, according to diplomats cited by the dpa and AFP news agencies.

Instead, the revised document calls for a plan to establish “closer ties” between

    • 🇨🇦GreenBeard🇨🇦@lemmy.caEnglish
      7·
      1 天前

      Really, it’s not that big a deal, it was kind of a silly semantics game to call it “Associate Membership” anyway. It was more about headlines provoking the Coppertone Fascist. That a trade deal is cut is the important part.

    • Hubi@feddit.orgEnglish
      14·
      1 天前

      the proposal raised questions among member states because existing EU treaties do not provide for such a status.

      Diplomats said several governments were concerned about the lack of clarity surrounding the proposed arrangement and insufficient consultation between the European Commission and EU member states.

      Germany, France and Italy were among the countries that raised objections, although they broadly support closer cooperation with Canada.

      • Jhex@lemmy.worldEnglish
        91·
        1 天前

        Germany, France and Italy…

        is it jwst a coincidence that these countries who objected are also the ones flirting with far right movements?