newsweek.ro/international/disputa-bruxelles-trei-s

Germany, Italy, and Greece are opposing the proposed EU-Canada associate membership status, fearing legal uncertainties and a dangerous precedent. Ursula von der Leyen's unexpected offer for Canada to become the first associate member has sparked significant resistance among EU states. Concerns revolve around the undefined terminology and lack of prior consultation with member states. A revised declaration attempted to clarify the proposal, but objections were raised before the deadline, leading to further discussions ahead of the Montreal summit. The idea of associate membership was introduced by von der Leyen during her State of the Union address, surprising many EU capitals.