Canada needs concrete results from EU summit this week, former envoy says

Euronews reports that the summit in Montreal on 29-30 October is the first real chance to define the partnership in more detail.[2]According to CBC, Prime Minister Mark Carney said both parties are hammering out a "new, ambitious alliance."[1] In a statement from his office, Carney described "an alliance strong enough so that no one can dictate our choices, and an alliance open enough that others can join."[1]Dion told CBC's David Common that "what we need to see now is concrete results in all these files: trade, science, defence and security, artificial intelligence."[3] He said: "I'm not sure that this expression of an associate membership will fly."[1] He added that it "sounds like if Canada was sending part of its sovereignty to Brussels."[1]According to CBC, Dion instead suggested Canada could become an "official observer,"[1] or a full member of the European Political Community.Euronews reports that the latest draft joint statement uses "associate membership" interchangeably with "Alliance for the Future."[2] The draft conclusions say "the full scope of this associate membership will be defined by the 2027 Canada-EU Summit."[2]CBC also reports that Canada and the EU are working on a digital trade agreement[1], and that Carney wants Canada to join Europe's Erasmus+ program.[1]