Experts suggest Canada lock in gains with EU amid rise in far-right movements

Experts in European Union policy say Canada should try solidifying gains with the EU in legal frameworks as right-wing movements gain ground on the continent.

Academics studying EU relations are testifying to the House foreign-affairs committee after a Montreal summit last week which officials praised as a historic partnership.

Carleton University professor Achim Hurrelmann says that recent talk of Canada becoming an EU "associate member" attracts symbolic attention but officials could easily drop that language.

He says Canada should focus on getting wins encoded into European law, and consider restructuring the EU trade deal to increase economic gains.

University of Toronto professor Mark Manger says there are few concrete outcomes from last week's summit and that many of the agreements match what Mexico already has with the EU.

He suggested Ottawa could allow European mobile networks to set up shop in Canada in exchange for European countries dropping restrictions on importing Canadian food.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2026.

By Dylan Robertson | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.