Australia following Canada as EU associate member is ‘pure speculation,’ says Commission

Por Gerardo Fortuna — POLITICOPolitics » POLITICO

BRUSSELS ― The European Commission played down the prospect of extending its newly floated “associate membership” concept beyond Canada, at least while Brussels works out the details with Ottawa.

“We have made an announcement that relates to our intention to get closer to our Canadian partners via a process that will possibly go in that direction,” Commission spokesperson Arianna Podestà told reporters in Brussels on Friday. “We will not be speculating about other countries.”

Her comments came as she confirmed that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next week.

Asked whether the meeting could provide an opportunity to discuss the associate membership idea with Australia, Podestà dismissed the suggestion.

“We have a very strong and close relationship with our Australian partners,” she said. “All the rest is pure speculation, and we’re not going to enter into that.”

Von der Leyen pitched Canada as a potential first EU “associate member” during her State of the Union address on Wednesday. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has welcomed the ambition behind closer EU-Canada ties but has stopped short of endorsing the proposed status.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola subsequently said countries such as Australia and New Zealand could potentially follow Canada.

But Commission spokesperson Olof Gill stressed that Brussels is currently focused solely on developing the idea with Ottawa.

“What we’re focused on here is putting flesh on the bone on this idea,” Gill said, adding that the Commission is working with member states and Canadian partners to establish what the concept could look like in practice. “All other discussions are subsequent to that.”

Fonte: POLITICOPolitics » POLITICO