Experts have explained why they believe Canada, despite being separated by the Atlantic, could be able to join the European Union (EU). A poll of 1,500 Canadian adults earlier this year found 44% thought Ottawa should look into joining the bloc, while 34% were against the idea.
While the North American nation is some way from Europe, experts have explained to Politico that the idea of Canada joining the EU is not an impossibility, albeit unlikely. Professor of EU external democracy support at Maastricht University, Giselle Bosse, told the outlet that “being European is more of a state of mind”. “Legally and formally a European state is not actually defined and looking into the past, we’ve had European states that in a way are not limited to the European continent,” she said, explaining EU nations have overseas territories in other areas of the world.
She described Canadians as “special Europeans, in a way”, with the nation’s systems based on European models and many Canadians having ancestry linked to Europe – however, said she doesn’t see Canada joining the EU as likely in the short-term.
Professor of European politics at ETH Zurich, Frank Schimmelfennig, told Politico he believes Canada “would certainly qualify” as the country is “in very many ways probably closer to those European values, institutions and policies than many of the current candidate countries”.
There are currently nine nations, known as candidate countries, looking to join the EU; Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine. Kosovo is listed as a potential candidate.
Any decision on Canada joining the EU would belong to the bloc’s 27 member nations and the European Commission.
Deputy director at the Center for European Reform think tank, Ian Bond, told Politico he believes it would be “extremely difficult” to argue Canada is a European country for a number of reasons and that it doesn’t make economic sense due to EU tariffs on imports from the US.
He added Canada joining the bloc would require referendums in countries such as France – and warned French farmers, whose large protests have gathered huge media attention, would likely be unimpressed.
Mr Bond said: “How often have French farmers voted in favor of free trade with other parts of the world? They are more likely to set things on fire in an effort to prevent it from happening.”
It comes as tensions between Canada and its closest neighbour the US continue.
The Trump administration’s tariffs policy and talk of making Canada the US’ 51st state have infuriated many Canadians.
