Canada-EU Summit in Montreal to Advance Alliance, No Associate Membership Status The Canada-EU Summit in Montreal will advance deeper ties on business, technology, defence, critical minerals and energy, but Canada will not become an associate member of the EU. Financial commitments would only apply if either side joins specific programs such as Erasmus+. Canada and the European Union will deepen their alliance at a summit in Montreal on Thursday and Friday, but the arrangement will not make Canada an associate member of the EU. A draft joint statement obtained by The Canadian Press outlines closer cooperation on digital security, critical resources and water bombers. A senior government official said Wednesday that a stronger Canada-EU alliance would only include a financial commitment if either side joins specific programs in either jurisdiction. The officials said the government would be tied to a financial commitment only if it joins a program like Erasmus+, the EU student exchange program.Erasmus+ And EU ProgramsThey did not say which EU programs Canada might join. Prime Minister Mark Carney has publicly indicated a desire for Canada to join Erasmus+. That program has a budget of roughly 41 billion dollars for its 2021-2027 funding cycle. Carney has repeatedly said the substance of the agreement is more important than the language used to describe the evolving relationship.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen first floated the associate membership status invite during her state of the union address to the European Parliament last month. Canadian officials, including EU Ambassador Jonathan Wilkinson, immediately played down the term and said a description for the new partnership had not been decided. Several European news agencies have reported the idea is off the table, and EU members are looking at terminology around a closer association between the 27-member bloc and Canada.This week, several EU member nations rejected the term as proposed language was floated in documents ahead of the summit. European officials repeatedly used the phrase alliance for the future to describe the partnership in a media briefing Tuesday, a phrase embraced by Carney. A Canadian official briefing reporters Wednesday said the language being used to describe the partnership is more symbolic than significant.Canada-EU Summit FocusCanadian officials said the summit will focus on deepening ties in areas like business, technology, defence, critical minerals and energy. A draft joint statement obtained by The Canadian Press outlines closer Canada-EU cooperation on digital security, critical resources and water bombers. The program includes an official welcoming ceremony Thursday followed by a business dinner hosted by Carney. The dinner will gather leaders from various sectors in Canada and Europe alongside top elected officials.Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon was invited but has said he will not attend because he is not invited to speak at the formal summit. Several Canadian cabinet ministers are expected to attend: Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin, Industry Minister Melanie Joly, Culture Minister Marc Miller, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and AI Minister Evan Solomon.Timeline For 2027 DealEuropean officials said this week's summit is meant to advance conversations on deeper ties that can be finalized at the 2027 Canada-EU Summit. Carney supported that timeline in a comment before the weekly cabinet meeting Tuesday. Canadian officials were less specific when asked about the likely timeline for securing a more formal deal. Carney has said any deal with the EU would be brought to Parliament for debate and a vote.The summit's next steps in the alliance are expected to be finalized and announced Thursday and Friday during the Canada-EU Summit in Montreal.