EU and Canada say they will work to define a closer association by 2027

At their 21st Summit in Montréal, EU and Canadian leaders launched the "EU-Canada Alliance for the Future", their joint statement said. It said they will "work to define by the 2027 EU-Canada Summit the concept of an ever-closer association of Canada to the EU, short of full membership itself". The statement also said the two sides "concluded substantive negotiations on a Digital Trade Agreement". Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on X that Canada and the EU "are working towards the deepest possible partnership — short of full membership — with Canada becoming the European Union’s first Associate Member."