Brussels, Belgium - The European Union has reportedly dropped the idea that Canada should become an "associate member" of the EU.

In September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Canada should become the first "associate member" of the EU, a status that currently does not exist.

However, in a joint draft statement between Canada and the EU, the terms "associate member" and "associated membership" have been removed.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and several other leaders of EU countries pushed for the terms to be removed from the draft, dpa learned from diplomats.

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The statement now calls for an "ever closer association" between Canada and the EU. Commitments originally planned for financial market integration and mutual preferential treatment regarding measures for economic security have also been weakened.

The statement is expected to be issued at the end of a two-day EU-Canada summit in Montreal on Friday.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has aimed to deepen ties with the EU, Canada's second-largest trading partner, since trade relations with the US, Ottawa's largest economic partner, have become severely strained under President Donald Trump.