Watch: The 28th EU member? Why Canada is eyeing a closer bond with Brussels

Published on 04/05/2026 - 9:17 GMT+2

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, holding some Canadian and British passports, represents a unsocial span betwixt the Anglophone satellite and a Europe progressively wary of US isolationism.

And the acme successful Armenia could connection Canada a captious opening to physique caller European ties.

Some 57% of Canadians present enactment joining the 27-member bloc, with 84% prioritising stronger economical ties arsenic a buffer against US governmental turmoil.

The latest surveys amusement that astir Germans and Spaniards backmost Canada's EU accession, portion successful Poland, France and Italy, proponents importantly outweigh those against it.

Ottawa is nary geopolitical lightweight: Canada’s colonisation is astir 41.5 million, astir 10% of the EU's.

Although it is simply a founding NATO member, it remains extracurricular the European Economic Area. However, its GDP per capita remains importantly higher than the EU average, truthful if Canada were ever to participate the union, it would beryllium a affluent nett contributor.

However, contempt the nationalist enthusiasm, the "Brussels bubble" has issued a polite world check.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos precocious said that Canada fails the "European state" request of Article 49 of the Treaty connected European Union.

Unlike Ukraine, Turkey oregon Cyprus, Canada lacks the geographic and past taste connections indispensable to fulfill existent treaties without a full ineligible overhaul.

However, the narration could germinate toward a bespoke exemplary mirroring Norway's oregon Switzerland's: a "close family" enslaved that provides heavy integration into the azygous marketplace and information programmes, portion stopping conscionable abbreviated of a ceremonial marriage.

And for that, Canadians could 1 time accidental “yes”. Or “oui”, arsenic some English and French are the authoritative languages.

Watch the Euronews video successful the subordinate supra for the afloat story.