The European Union is a political and economic bloc made up of 27 European countries. The EU has a close relationship with Canada. In 2016, Canada and the EU signed a wide-ranging free trade agreement that allowed for most trade tariffs between the two to be dropped. But could we see this relationship go further? Could Canada actually join the European Union?
Canada could not join the European Union. Only countries on the European continent can join the EU and Canada is in North America. However, although Canada could not become an EU member state, in 2016 Canada and the EU signed a comprehensive free trade agreement.
…but that’s just an overview. In order to really answer if Canada could join the European Union, we need to go into a bit more detail.
Is Canada In The European Union?
The first question we need to understand in relation to Canada and the European Union is if Canada is already a member of the bloc?
Canada is not in the European Union. There has not been a time in history when Canada was an EU member state and Canada has never been a candidate for EU membership.
Canada has never been a member of the European Union. Although Canada has a strong relationship with the EU, it is not a member state. Canada and the EU could be considered allies and work closely together in many areas, but Canada is not a member of the EU.
In 2016, Canada signed a free trade agreement with the EU. This is seen as one of the most comprehensive agreements between the EU and any country. The free trade agreement between Canada and the EU removes many tariffs on goods and services between the two. However, the Canada-EU free trade agreement is not the same as Canada being an EU member state.
Why Can’t Canada Join The European Union?
Ok, so we know Canada isn’t a member of the European Union, but why not? Why can’t Canada be an EU member state?
Canada cannot join the European Union because it is not a European country. Only countries on the European continent can join the EU. Canada is in North America and so it not eligible to become an EU member.
The European Union has a set of criteria that countries that wish to join must meet. These are known as the Copenhagen Criteria. They were established in 1993 by the European Council in Copenhagen, Denmark. The full list of criteria is extensive, but the main areas that possible EU member states need to meet to become members include:
- A country must be geographically in Europe
- A nation must be democratic
- The rule of law must be respected
- Human rights must be protected
- Minority rights must be protected
- A country must have a free market economy
- A country’s economy must be able to compete in the EU’s single market
As we can see, Canada meets most of the criteria to be an EU member state.
Canada is a democratic nation where the rule of law is respected. Human rights and the rights of minorities are also protected in Canada. The country has a free market economy, and, as the eighth largest economy the world, the Canada would be able to compete within the EU single market.
Although Canada meets almost all of the main criteria to join the European Union, there is one key area that prevents Canada from becoming an EU member state – Canada is not a European country.
The biggest reason why Canada cannot join the EU is because it is a North American country, not a European one. Although the definition of Europe is broad, and the EU takes a political position on what counts as Europe (Georgia was accepted to be an EU candidate for membership in 1996), it is clear Canada is not a European country.
The European Union will not allow countries that are not on the continent of Europe join. In 1987, Morocco applied for membership of the EU. It was rejected because it is not a European country. This shows Canada can’t join the EU because it is also not in Europe.
Will Canada Join The EU?
The next question we need to think about when discussing Canada’s possible inclusion in the European Union is if it is likely Canada will join the EU?
Canada will not join the European Union. Only countries in Europe can join the EU. There is also no political or public will in Canada or Europe for the country to become an EU member.
As we’ve discussed, Canada does not meet one of the main requirements for being an EU member state. Only countries in Europe can join the European Union and because Canada is not in Europe, it will not join the EU.
Although it is possible for the EU to change its criteria for membership or give an exemption to some nations in order for them to join, it is extremely unlikely that this would happen for Canada. There is not the public support in Canada or the EU for the country to join the bloc. There is also no political will in Europe or in Canada to expand the EU to include countries outside of the European continent.
It is likely that Canada and the EU will continue to work closely together and form strong economic, political and defence ties. However, Canada is not going to become a member of the EU.
What Would Happen If Canada Joined The EU?
Although it’s clear that Canada won’t join the European Union, let’s, as a thought experiment, think about what would happen if it did. Really, there would be four major things that would happen if Canada joined the EU. These are:
- An enlargement of the EU’s economy
- An expansions of the EU’s territory
- An increase to the EU’s population
Let’s look at each of these in turn…
Enlargement Of The EU’s Economy
The European Union is currently the third largest economy in the world. Canada is the eighth largest economy globally. If Canada joined the EU, it would increase the size of the EU’s economy by 1.64 trillion dollars, giving the EU an estimated GDP of nearly 20 trillion dollars. This would make it almost equal to the size of China’s economy and could push the EU to be the second largest economy in the world.
Expansions Of The EU’s Territory
If Canada joined the European Union, it would become significantly larger. Currently the EU’s territory covers 4.23 million square kilometres. If Canada – the second largest country in the world with a territory of over 9.98 million square kilometres, became a member of the European Union, the EU would more than triple in size.
Increase To The EU’s Population
Canada joining the European Union would increase the EU’s population by 38 million people. This would be around an 8.5% increase in the EU’s population.
Should Canada Join The European Union?
Right, so we’ve looked at whether Canada could join the European Union, as well as why it won’t, and what would happen if it did. Now, let’s think about whether Canada actually should join the EU? What benefits could there be to both Canada and the European Union if Canada became a member state?
Canada should not join the European Union. As Canada is located in North America, and not Europe, if it joined the European Union, it would expand the EU’s territory across two continents. Canada joining the EU would also likely create hostility in both Europe and Canada against the Union in some parts of society.
Although there are some people who believe that Canada should join the EU, they are a tiny minority. The majority of people in both Canada and Europe do not think Canada should become an EU member state.
In Europe, people want the EU to remain a community of European countries. The aim of the European Union is to promote cooperation and peace between European countries by integrating their economies, providing a joint governmental structure, allowing for the free movement of people and goods, and promoting education and understanding between nations. Canada shouldn’t join the EU as it would not be in-line with the stated objectives of the European Union.
Canada is a sovereign nation made up of ten provinces and three territories. The country is not a member of any intergovernmental organisation and has not pooled its sovereignty with any other countries as members of the European Union have. Canada is able to set its own laws, trade standards and immigration controls. The vast majority of people in Canada believe this should continue. Many also believe Canada should not join the EU as they do not want the economy of Canada directly connected to that of Europe.
Why Canada Shouldn’t Join The EU
So, we’ve looked at if Canada should join the EU, but let’s expand on this a bit. What would be the downsides of the European Union accepting Canada as a member? Really, there are four main ones:
- Economic differences between Canada and the EU
- Differences in culture between Europe and Canada
- Strategically weaken the EU
- Already successful relationship between EU and Canada
Let’s take a quick look at each of these…
Economic Differences Between Canada and the EU
A first reason why Canada should not join the European Union is a difference in the economies between the two. The European Union and Canada have different bases, workforces, requirements and systems of management and controls within their economies. If Canada joined the EU, it would need to harmonise its economic standards with the rest of Europe. This would weaken the Canadian economy and put strain on the relationship between Canada and the EU.
Differences In Culture Between Europe and Canada
Canada and Europe have different cultures, and this is another reason why Canada should not join the EU. Although Canada and Europe have a shared history, their cultures, traditions, views, and systems are different to that of Europe. Joining Canada and the EU could create resentment in both Europe and Canada.
Strategically Weaken The EU
The European Union is all located in Europe and is almost one continuous territory. If Canada joined, it would divide the EU between Europe and North America. This could make the EU strategically weaker and is a third reason why Canada should not join the bloc.
Already Successful Relationship Between EU And Canada
A final reason why Canada should not join the European Union is that the EU and Canada already have a successful relationship. After the signing of the comprehensive free trade agreement in 2016, Canada and the EU have become closer economically. Canada and the EU are also strong allies and share cultural, defence, scientific and educational links. Canada joining the EU could jeopardize the already strong relationship between the EU and Canada and this is a reason why Canada shouldn’t become an EU member state.
Is Canada Part of Schengen?
Finally, although we know Canada is not going to join the EU, what about the Schengen area? The Schengen area is made up of 26 countries who have agreed to abolish all passport controls and other types of border restrictions. So, is Canada in Schengen?
Canada is not part of the European Schengen zone. As Canada is not part of the European Union, it sets its own visa policies as a sovereign nation. Canada has never been part of Schengen and there are no plans to extend freedom of movement between Canada and the EU.
The Schengen area was established in 1995. It includes countries within the EU and established a single external border for member countries whilst removing all internal border checks. Only countries in the EU can be part of the Schengen Agreement and this is why Canada is not included.
Not being a member of the Schengen area means that border controls are in-place between EU countries and Canada. Anyone traveling between the EU and Canada needs to check what entry requirements there are and if they need a visa.
As well as removing the needs for visas or entry requirements between member countries, the Schengen area also allows for the freedom of movement of goods, trade, commerce, and money. As Canada is not part of the Schengen area, there are requirements on movements between the EU and Canada that must be met.