Can Canada join the EU?

Social networks are full of Europeans and Canadians calling for Canada to join the European Union, broadcast Periscope.

The posts are full of comments by users suggesting that Canada can and should join the EU to break off its ties with Washington, as the Trump administration threatens to make Canada its 51st state and set tariffs for its traditional allies there and in Europe.

It becomes known that supporters of Canada becoming the bloc's 28th member state cited 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 come after new Prime Minister Mark Carney allude to Canada's European roots during a visit to the old continent ʹ his first official foreign trip since taking office since he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss Trump.

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Canada, join the EU!#Canada EU #ElbowsUp #Canada ♪ EU #Buy Canadian Pic.twitter. com/a0 m N2 NPRIR

Um... (@ MStakis) March 16, 2025

The meeting comes after a poll published by Abacus Data in late February found that 44% of Canadians believe their country should join the EU, compared to 34% who say it should not.

Another 46% of respondents support Canadian membership, compared to 29% who would oppose it.

But is this really possible? Can Canada Really Join the Block?

What does EU law say?

Paula Pinho, spokeswoman for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said at a conference in early March that they were the honoured “with poll results because they showed the EU's authenticity, but added that Article 49 of the Treaty for the European Union says only European states can apply for EU membership.

This is really what the treaty says: “Any European state that respects the values mentioned in Article 2 and commits itself to promoting them can apply to become a member of the Union”.

However, the treaty does not specify exactly what constitutes a European “state”.

A 1992 document by the then European Community Commission gives us a clue, however, stressing the importance of geographical and cultural ties, writes euronewsHe's following in on Telegrafie.

“Frames “European” is not officially defined”, it says.

It combines geographical, historical and cultural elements that all contribute to European identity. ”

“Common experience of proximity, ideas, values, and historical interaction cannot be converted into a simple formula and subject to revision of each generation to”, the document continues.

The other continental bodies could also serve as the barometer for European 48x1>, according to Peter Van Elsuwege, EU law professor at Gent University.

“Another reference point 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 provides an indicator of the borders of Europe”, the professor continued.

It is reported that the Council of Europe statue, which precedes the EU, says “Every European state... can be invited to become a member of the Council of Europe by the Committee of Ministers”.

Has any non-European country previously applied to EU membership?

Countries from outside of continental Europe have sought earlier and even eventually joined the EU.

Cyprus, which is cultural 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, much of it is also in western Asia.

However, it is an official EU candidate country, despite accession talks being stalled for years.

Morocco, however, applied to join in 1987, but was refused 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 Elsuwee.

“Canada ) just like Morocco in the past does not meet the criteria of a European state”, he said.

In particular, Canada is not geographically located in Europe, it is not a Council of Europe member state, and there is no ancient connection to the cultural development of Europe”, Van Elsuwege added.

Among other things, the professor noted that this is essentially different for Cyprus and Turkey.

In the first case, the European Commission decided that Cyprus's role in the development of European culture and civilisation, in addition to close cultural, political and economic ties with the rest of the continent, made its application acceptable.

For Turkey, geography and its history play a role for it to be 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 for a possible application for future membership from Turkey”, Van Elsuwege said.

“Cyprus and Turkey are very specific cases which cannot be seen as precedents to conclude that Canada can potentially be considered a European state under Article 49 TEU”, it concluded.

Therefore, the most likely conclusion is that Canada cannot legally become a member of the EU because it is not culturally, politically or geographically European and a Canadian hypothetical application would require a legal revision of the treaties.