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@davekeating.substack.com

This was always the risk with 🇪🇺President @VonDerLeyen's "associate membership" gambit. It was never real (there is no such thing and there won't be), it was branding. But people will notice when it goes missing from the Montreal summit. And now, that may look like retreat after Trump's threats.

politico.euEU wavers on ‘associate membership’ for CanadaPresented by TikTok By NICHOLAS VINOCUR with GERARDO FORTUNA and GREGORIO SORGI PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Follow us @gerardofortuna @NicholasVinocur @GabrielGavin | Listen to Playbook and view …

27/10/26, 10:07 am5 reposts6 likes

Erik

@erikesq.bsky.social

Von der Leyen has seen her role too broad from day one. She permits herself to say and do things she later gets called back for. And IMO that gives a skewed vision to the world of what the EU really is not: a united states.

Dave Keating

@davekeating.substack.com

10h

As I wrote last month, the surprise "associate membership" announcement in von der Leyen's State of the Union address (apparently done without consultation with EU governments or even 🇨🇦) got attention for its boldness. It's just a label. But was it wise? davekeating.substack.com/p/with-carne...

davekeating.substack.comWith Carney’s speech, Europe is importing inspirationTrump’s aggressive reaction to the idea of Canada’s “associate membership” in the EU shows exactly why a defensive partnership is needed. But will the label prove a distraction?