As relations between Canada and the United States have become increasingly strained, an idea once dismissed as political fantasy is now entering the mainstream: could Canada one day join the European Union? A recent poll amongst Canadians found that nearly three in five Canadians would support or somewhat support EU membership, while prominent European politicians, including French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, have openly entertained the prospect. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to pursue a "much stronger and deeper partnership" with Europe. Yet there is one obvious obstacle: Canada is not in Europe. We examine whether an EU accession is legally and politically conceivable, what Canadians and Europeans might gain from it, and whether closer integration is a realistic future or simply a symbolic response to growing tensions with Washington.
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