Key Facts

• Canada is exploring closer ties with the European Union through a special status called "associate membership."
• This associate membership is not full EU membership but offers a closer relationship than standard trade deals.
• Canada already has a provisional trade agreement with the EU called CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement).
• Some EU countries, including France and Italy, have not yet fully approved CETA.
• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is meeting European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
• Discussions occur in the context of US, Russian, and European interests in the Arctic region.
• France will host Carney in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a small French territory near Canada.
• The EU is considering how best to manage relations with Canada while balancing its relationship with the United States.