During a Berlin conference, France’s Foreign Minister raised the prospect of Canada joining the EU, while the Canadian Prime Minister dismissed the idea.
French Minister Floats Potential Canadian EU Membership
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, speaking at the Europa 2026 conference in Berlin on March 17th, highlighted the increasing appeal of the European Union to partners outside its borders due to growing geopolitical tensions. He noted nine countries are currently candidates, with Iceland potentially joining soon, and even suggested Canada could be a future member.
Barrot’s comments, as reported by Politico, weren’t a formal proposal but part of a broader argument positioning the EU as a “third superpower” capable of balancing the US and China. Finnish President Alexander Stubb also encouraged Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to consider EU membership.
Geopolitical Context Drives Discussion
The timing of these suggestions is linked to European leaders seeking to strengthen the EU’s geopolitical role in light of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Barrot presented Europe as uniquely positioned to foster cooperation through its economic strength, democratic model, and regulatory power.
The French Foreign Minister also emphasized renewed cooperation with the United Kingdom, and deepening relations with countries like India and Switzerland.
Canadian Public Opinion and Political Response
A 2025 poll indicated that 44% of Canadians believe their country should join the EU. This discussion coincides with increasingly strained relations between Canada and the United States, with former US President Donald Trump once suggesting Canada become the “51st state.”
While Barrot and Stubb are the highest-ranking officials to publicly discuss Canadian EU membership, a spokesperson for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the poll results but ultimately rejected the idea of Canadian accession.
Carney Rejects EU Membership, Open to Partnership
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney definitively stated that Canada has no intention of joining the EU when questioned at a NATO summit earlier this year, stating, “That is not our intention. Not that way.”
However, Carney indicated Canada is seeking to strengthen ties beyond membership, including a new strategic partnership with the EU in defense and security, focusing on trade, supply chains, and security cooperation.
EU Membership Remains Unlikely, But Not Impossible
Politico concludes that while full Canadian membership in the EU is unlikely in the near future and there are no concrete plans for it, it is “not impossible” given increasing geopolitical turbulence.