Canada and the European Union are abandoning the associate membership program in an attempt to deepen ties.

Canada and the European Union are abandoning the associate membership program in an attempt to deepen ties.

Canada and the European Union will continue to strengthen ties but have scrapped a bid for associate membership in the European Union, according to a joint statement ahead of Thursday's summit in Montreal. Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to reduce Canada's dependence on the US, despite Donald Trump's warnings.