Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday he expects to conclude negotiations with the European Union in June on an unprecedented partnership that would make Canada the bloc’s first “associate member,” even though the designation was left out of a joint declaration launching a new economic and security alliance.

Carney said he would attend a meeting of European leaders in June to conclude negotiations on the proposed relationship, which would stop short of full EU membership.

“In parallel, we are working towards the deepest possible partnership, short of accession — with Canada becoming the European Union’s first Associate Member,” Carney said.

The joint declaration issued at the end of a two-day summit in Montreal made no mention of associate membership. Instead, the leaders agreed to define an “ever-closer association” by their next summit in 2027.

European Council President António Costa said the alliance would be the closest relationship the EU has ever established with a country outside the bloc, expanding cooperation on trade, research and security as U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war strains relations with traditional allies.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said shared values mattered more than geography in determining which countries should work together.

“It is not so important where the countries are on the map,” von der Leyen said. “What is important are the values that a country defends and where countries stand in international relations.”

Carney said the proposed alliance would strengthen the sovereignty of Canada and Europe and help them weather economic shocks.

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