Canada's new relationship with EU will be 'closer to membership' than ever, senior officials say

Senior European Union officials say the bloc's 27 countries want the closest possible association with Canada, building a partnership closer to membership than anything the EU has done before. Canada hosts the EU at a summit in Montreal this week, where new agreements on trade, security and technology are expected. Prime Minister Mark Carney says the summit launches a year of formal talks, and that the substance matters more than the name.

• European Union officials say the details and exact title of Canada's possible associate membership are still being debated, but the 27 member countries are united in wanting the closest possible association with Canada.
• Canada hosts the EU at a summit in Montreal this week, where the two sides are expected to announce new agreements on trade, security and technology.
• A senior EU official called this year's meeting one of the most important summits the European Union has ever held, speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday in Brussels.
• Officials stressed that the process is just getting started, with the work to be done between now and the next summit, which is expected in 2027.
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen surprised many last month when she announced the EU would begin the process of making Canada its first associate member, a status that does not exist within the bloc.
• Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday that the two-day summit, which begins on Thursday, launches formal discussions and negotiations over the next year, and that the substance of the relationship matters more than its name.
• Carney has repeatedly said that Canada is not seeking full EU membership and often calls the enhanced partnership a strategic alliance, as Ottawa seeks stronger trade ties while relations with the United States suffer under the trade war.

Source: CBC News. Visit the CBCNEWSAPP for the full story.

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