Canada and EU Weigh Closer Ties at Montreal Summit

Canada and European Union leaders are using a Montreal summit to pursue broader economic and security cooperation, while the form of a proposed closer partnership remains unsettled. Prime Minister Mark Carney is hosting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa at the two-day meeting, scheduled for October 29 and 30, 2026. The agenda includes trade and market access, defence and security, technology and energy. Canadian officials have also identified cooperation on critical minerals, research and innovation as priorities. Leaders are expected to issue a joint statement outlining the next stage of cooperation when the summit concludes on October 30. A central question is whether Canada could receive a new status as an EU associate member. Von der Leyen proposed the idea in September, but the status does not currently exist in EU law and would require approval from member states. One report said Germany, France and Italy opposed the proposal before the summit. The Canadian government has not announced an agreed membership arrangement. A draft joint declaration reviewed before the meeting reportedly omits the phrase “associate...