Roger-Luc Chayer (Image: AI / Gay Globe)
Following the wave of announcements from the President of the United States, Donald Trump, regarding hundreds of decisions and orders, several of which apply to Canada, the question of Canada’s potential membership in the European Union has resurfaced, especially after the announcement of international tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminum.
Canada supplies about 20% of the steel consumed by the United States, while approximately 45% of Canada’s aluminum is sold to Americans. The economic stakes are significant, and what worries Canadians the most, let’s admit it, is the president’s tendency to behave like some past dictators, loudly declaring that his ultimate goal is to break Canada’s economy in order to force the world’s largest constitutional monarchy into joining the American republic as the 51st state. This makes no sense, as Canada, being traditionally politically and socially democratic, would control Congress and the White House for decades.
Are there discussions about Canada’s accession to the European Union?
Several financial stakeholders, both in Canada and Europe, are paving the way for such an accession. Although politicians and governments do not openly discuss this project, it is clear that the topic has likely been raised privately in meetings between Canada and representatives from EU member countries. It would be helpful to have such discussions, knowing that President Trump is highly unstable and never respects his agreements.
Would the geographic criterion be respected?
One of the basic criteria for a country to join the European Union is the contiguity of nations. This means that countries must be contiguous, in other words, must physically border Europe in order to be considered for EU membership. Currently, all EU member countries have a border that touches Europe; even Cyprus and Malta share maritime borders with the continent. How could Canada, located in North America, meet this criterion?
An interesting fact, known to few Canadians and Europeans, is that Canada currently shares two borders with Europe. The first is between Newfoundland and Labrador (the easternmost province of Canada) and the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. After the defeat of New France against the British, the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 ceded Newfoundland and Acadia to the British but allowed France to retain Saint Pierre and Miquelon. After the French defeat in 1763, the Treaty of Paris confirmed that the islands remained under French sovereignty despite the loss of the rest of New France. Since then, the islands have remained French and gradually evolved into their current status as an overseas collectivity, with a local government under the authority of the French Republic. Today, they represent the last vestige of French presence in North America.
The second border that Canada shares with Europe is to the north, in the Arctic, between Canada and Greenland, on Hans Island. Hans Island is a small, uninhabited territory of 1.3 km² located in Nares Strait, between Canada and Greenland (Denmark). For decades, it was the subject of a territorial dispute between the two countries. From the 1970s onwards, claims intensified, leading to a « flag war » where each nation would plant its flag and leave bottles of alcohol as a friendly challenge. In 2022, an agreement officially divided the island into two, establishing a land border between Canada and Europe. This agreement marks a peaceful resolution of a rare territorial dispute. Therefore, Canada has two borders with Europe, and these are not new!
Could Canada join the European Union and turn its back on the United States?
The answer is yes, and here’s why:
To join the European Union (EU), a candidate country must meet several criteria primarily defined by the Copenhagen criteria established in 1993, as well as specific requirements of the EU treaty. These criteria fall into three main categories:
- Political criteria
The candidate country must:
- Have stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and respect for minorities.
- Ensure a pluralistic political system and free, fair elections.
- Respect and protect fundamental freedoms (freedom of expression, association, etc.).
- Economic criteria
The country must:
- Have a viable market economy capable of competing within the EU.
- Ensure sufficient economic and financial stability to avoid major disruptions after accession.
- Legal criteria (acquis communautaire)
The country must:
- Accept and be able to apply the acquis communautaire, which includes all EU laws, rules, and standards.
- Adopt EU common policies, including those on competition, agriculture, environmental protection, and justice.
- Harmonize its national legislation with EU law.
- Other specific conditions
- The EU must be able to integrate the country without compromising its functioning.
- The candidate country must demonstrate the ability to assume the obligations of membership.
Accession process
- Official application → A country must submit a formal application for membership to the European Council.
- Candidate status → If accepted, the country becomes an official candidate.
- Negotiations → A long and detailed process where the country must align its laws and institutions with those of the EU.
- Ratification → Once all conditions are met, membership is validated by the EU member states and the European Parliament.
This process can take several years or even decades, as seen with Turkey or the Western Balkans, but based on the criteria outlined, Canada could very well be a full member of the European Union and an important contributor to its economy.
What would be the benefits for Canadians to join the European Union?
The benefits for Europe would be access to raw materials that it greatly lacks (steel, aluminum, wood, rare earths, metals, etc.) at competitive prices, without the tariffs currently imposed by the United States. EU citizens could come to live, study, and work in Canada, as they do in all EU member states, without complicated formalities, similar to the arrangements between Canadian provinces.
EU membership would offer Canada several significant benefits. First, the country could access a market of over 450 million consumers, thus boosting its exports and diversifying its trade partnerships. It would also offer protection from tariffs imposed by other major economic powers, such as the United States, and encourage European investments in Canada. Additionally, Canadians would benefit from the free movement of people, facilitating professional and academic exchanges. This membership would also enhance Canada’s role on the international stage, as an influential member of a major political and economic union.
Turning away from the United States would also allow Canada to reclaim the dignity trampled by Donald Trump, within a framework that aligns much better with its own values. Let’s not forget that EU citizens, thanks to free movement between member states, can travel to southern Europe—Spain, Italy, or Greece—without any formalities and can reside for more than six months, unlike in Florida. Finally, Canadians could legitimately retire in the warm south of Europe.
All in all, there would be only benefits for both Canada and the European Union in uniting, and it is very likely that a major economic crisis would hit the United States if Canada delivered such a blow. The sooner, the better!