Matthias Lüttenberg is a German diplomat who has shared the ambassadorship to Canada with his spouse, Tjorven Bellmann, since September 2024. He studied law at Passau and Aberystwyth and joined the German Foreign Service in 2003. His overseas assignments included Pristina, London and Tel Aviv. He later worked at the Federal Chancellery on European and Central Asian affairs and became the Foreign Office's director for Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus in 2021.
Officeholder (2024 to present)Also known as Matthias Luttenberg, Matthias Luettenberg, Mathias LuttenbergWebsite (opens in a new tab)
What we have documented
We have documented 2 statements by Matthias Lüttenberg, in 1 case. Each statement below gives the quotation, its original source and a link to the full case.
Case updates
Will Canada and the EU define 'associate membership'?
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Role at the time: German Ambassador to Canada, speaking to The Hill Times at the Montreal summit
Mixed or conditional
Statement summary
After the summit, Germany's ambassador to Canada called its result a major achievement. He said that since von der Leyen and Carney are using the associated-membership term, the two sides should work out what it can mean, and that the label should not distract from the content agreed.
“The president of the commission and the prime minister are using the term associated membership, so let's fill that name with life and see what it can be about. I think we should not be distracted by the label in question from the important content that has been agreed today”
Open source (opens in a new tab)'Entering a new era': Canada, EU pledge closer ties in 'unprecedented' summit as leaders double down on associate membershipPassage quoting Ambassador Lüttenberg
Why we used this label
Relative to whether Canada should become an associate member of the European Union, Lüttenberg backs the deeper partnership and accepts working with the term its leaders use, while leaving its meaning to be defined. That is a conditional position on the proposal rather than clear support or opposition.
Role at the time: German Ambassador to Canada, interviewed on CTV News' Power Play
Mixed or conditional
Statement summary
Germany's ambassador to Canada said the associate-membership announcement surprised some EU governments but did not rule out agreement on it. He called the proposal a gesture of good will toward Canada and said the term was still under discussion.
“I think we have been a little surprised by the announcement, which doesn't mean that we cannot agree on it”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Canada-EU: Aim to solidify 'associate membership' in a yearArticle, paragraphs quoting Carney and Ambassador Luttenberg
Why we used this label
Relative to whether Canada should become an associate member of the European Union, Lüttenberg supports closer ties but says the new concept needs time for all 27 member states to consider, and leaves open whether Germany will accept the label. That is a conditional position on the proposal rather than support or opposition.
The European Commission president offered to open the door for Canada to become the European Union's first associate member. Mark Carney welcomed the ambition, Pierre Poilievre set red lines, and Donald Trump threatened tariffs. Nobody has defined what the status would mean.
