EU fears that Canada’s special status could open the door to other countries

France, Italy, Cyprus, the Netherlands, and Spain have expressed concern over a proposal to grant Canada a special status as an associate member of the European Union, fearing that it could set a precedent for other non-member states, reports the publication Rapporteur, citing two diplomats.

According to Rapporteur, the initiative to grant Canada this special status was previously put forward by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a speech in September. The proposal has, however, sparked disagreement within the European Union itself.

"France, along with Italy, Cyprus, the Netherlands, and Spain, has warned that the new 'associate member' status for Canada could pave the way for similar arrangements with other non-EU countries," the report states.

According to the publication, European capitals are concerned that establishing a special status for Canada could prompt similar demands from other states, including countries already seeking to join the EU. 

At the same time, the specific terms of this new status have yet to be defined. Brussels and Ottawa have agreed to develop the parameters for closer ties in time for the next EU-Canada summit in 2027.

 The publication adds that Canada and the European Union are already linked by a free trade agreement, CETA; while large parts of the deal have been in effect since 2017, it has not yet been ratified by all EU member states.

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