European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposal for an “associated membership” of Canada with the EU (September) has been scaled back. The term has been removed from the joint EU-Canada summit declaration, Euronews reports, due to objections from member states led by Germany, hindering her initial vision.

The final text, agreed upon by the states, speaks of an “ever closer association” between the EU and Canada, without mentioning membership. This change, although semantic, is a setback for von der Leyen, who did not consult the members. Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho reiterated a “solid agreed basis” for collaboration.

Germany justified its objections by requesting that the substance of the partnership precede a label with legal implications. Curiously, Chancellor Merz had proposed such membership for Ukraine (May), which was later rejected. Canadian PM Mark Carney also did not support the idea, preferring his “Alliance for the Future” for global stability.

Despite the terminological differences, EU-Canada ties have strengthened. Collaboration includes critical raw materials, reciprocal access in AI and cloud, and integration into defense programs. German MEP Bernd Lange emphasized the importance of concrete actions over verbal definitions.