'A new state in the EU' - Can Canada apply to join the European Union?
Currently one of the hottest topics on social media is Canada joining the European Union, following recent hostility from US President Donald Trump, which has pushed Ottawa closer to Europe's side.
Posts on Reddit and X are full of comments from social media users suggesting that Canada could and should join the EU to break away from its ties to Washington, as the Trump administration threatens to make Canada its 51st state and impose tariffs on its traditional allies there and in Europe.
Supporters of Canada becoming the 28th member state cite its European-style public health care system, its unique English- and French-speaking culture, and its participation in NATO as some of the reasons for joining.
However, more posts of this kind came after new Prime Minister Mark Carney alluded to Canada's European roots during a visit to the old continent - his first official foreign trip since taking office - where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss Trump's latest war.
"I want to make sure that France and all of Europe work enthusiastically with Canada, the most European of non-European countries, " Carney said, adding that he wanted to " maintain the most positive relationship possible with the United States ." The meeting came after a poll released by Abacus Data in late February found that 44% of Canadians believe their country should join the EU, compared with 34% who say it should not.
Another 46% of respondents would support Canada joining, compared to 29% who would oppose it. But is this actually possible? Could Canada really join the bloc?
What does EU law say?
Paula Pinho, spokeswoman for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, told a conference in early March that they were "honored" by the survey results because they showed the attractiveness of the EU, but added that Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union states that only European states can apply for EU membership.
This is actually what the treaty says: "Any European State which respects the values referred to in Article 2 and is committed to promoting them may apply to become a member of the Union ". However, the treaty does not define exactly what constitutes a "European State". A 1992 document from the Commission of the then European Communities gives us a clue, however, by stressing the importance of geographical and cultural links.
“The term ‘European’ has not been formally defined,” it says. “It combines geographical, historical and cultural elements which all contribute to the European identity.” “The shared experience of proximity, ideas, values and historical interaction cannot be condensed into a simple formula and is subject to revision by each succeeding generation,” the document continues.
“Another point of reference is membership in the Council of Europe, as this organisation is also open only to ‘European States ’,” he said. “Therefore, membership in the Council of Europe gives an indication of the ‘borders of Europe.’ ” The Statute of the Council of Europe, which predates the EU, states: “ Any European State…may be invited to become a member of the Council of Europe by the Committee of Ministers.”
Has any non-European country previously applied to join the EU?
Countries from outside continental Europe have previously sought and even eventually joined the EU. Cyprus, which is culturally and politically European but geographically located in Western Asia, became a full member of the EU in 2004.
While part of Turkey is located in Europe, most of it is also in Western Asia. However, it is an official candidate country for the EU, although accession talks have been stalled for years. Morocco, however, applied to join in 1987, but was rejected because it was not a European country.
Unlike Cyprus and Turkey, Morocco is not a member of the Council of Europe, nor is Canada, which is one of the biggest obstacles to its EU membership, according to Van Elsuwege.
"Like Morocco in the past, Canada does not meet the criteria for a European state ," he said. " In particular, Canada is not geographically located in Europe, is not a member state of the Council of Europe, and has no ancient connection to the cultural development of Europe."
Almost every European country is a member of the Council of Europe. Canada is an observer state. Van Elsuwege noted that this is fundamentally different for Cyprus and Turkey. In the former case, the European Commission decided that Cyprus’ role in the development of European culture and civilization, in addition to its close cultural, political and economic ties with the rest of the continent, made its application admissible.
For Turkey, its geography and history play a role in its being considered a "European state." "This was already the case in the 1963 association agreement between the European Economic Community and Turkey, which includes a reference to a possible future membership application by Turkey," Van Elsuwege said.
" Therefore, Cyprus and Turkey are quite specific cases, which cannot be seen as precedents for concluding that Canada can potentially be considered a "European State" under Article 49 TEU."
Therefore, the most likely conclusion is that Canada cannot legally join the EU because it is not culturally, politically, or geographically European, and a hypothetical Canadian application would require a legal review of the treaties.
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