What initially inspired your idea of strengthening ties between Canada and the European Union, and why do you believe this is particularly important now?
I was driving my car when I heard the news that Trump was claiming that Canada should become the 51st state of the US. I am particularly sensitive to the questions of sovereignty and self-determinations, and I just could not ignore this unrealistic ambition of Trump without saying a word. I am deeply convinced that the Rule of Law needs to be protected on the international level, and the EU has an important role to play in this. The EU is a voluntary structure, nobody has ever been forcefully dragged into it. On the contrary, EU membership is an aspiration for many. It can be a long path to be ready for EU accession and normally countries have to undertake extensive reforms. But in the case of Canada, there would not be the need for too many reforms. If you ask me when Canada should have joined the EU, I would reply “it should have happened already yesterday”. Canada belongs to the club of liberal democracies and our European family. I can easily imagine myself sitting and voting on the EP Plenary side by side with Canadian MEPs. I could also easily imagine having a Canadian Commissioner.
You’ve suggested Canada potentially joining or aligning closely with the EU. What practical steps do you see as necessary for this unprecedented scenario to become a reality?
Apart from the reform of the EU treaties, there are many other steps which we should undertake to prepare to welcome Canada into our Union.
First, Canada should be invited to become a member of the European Political Community. This would already send a strong political signal. Joining this community would be very appealing for Canada since Great Britain is a member of this European alliance. Since ties with the UK are very important for Canadians, it would be a natural first step for Canada to become more closely aligned on an international level with the EU.
Another necessary initiative is the completion of the CETA agreement. We need a comprehensive agreement which corresponds to today’s realities and technological development. Namely, we need to focus on the vital issues of digital trade, raw materials, energy markets, use of AI and defence procurement. All these aspects are
extremely important, so exploring them in the context of CETA completion would be an important step forward for both sides.
There are many other initiatives, like the political Erasmus between Canada and the EU which I have proposed to the European Commission. But if I were just to add one more, I would say we need to raise the profile of Brussels among Canadians. Yes, I receive feedback from dozens of those who follow international media outlets. But it is still generally true that Canadians receive very little information about the EU. If the main Canadian broadcasters take the initiative to share European culture, media and political trends on Canadian TV, I think the Canadian public would see the appeal of joining the EU, especially when compared to the choice of staying only in the zone of US influence.
How do you respond to skeptics who argue that geographic distance and cultural differences could pose significant challenges to closer integration between Canada and the EU?
I would reply with the words of one of the supporters, from whom I have got a letter this weekend: “Just as Vladimir Putin “convinced” Finland and Sweden to join NATO, the threat from Mr. Trump could persuade Canada to turn more toward Europe”. Let us be honest, nobody was realistically supposing that Finland and Sweden would join NATO until the Russian war of aggression started in 2022. And yet, here we are today. In history the building of alliances might happen very quickly, if there is enough political will to seize the moment.
And I feel there is a lot of potential for such a development to take place. As I always say, windows of opportunity are either open or closed. In this case, the window is open wide. I think this has much to do with the fact that bringing Canada to the EU brings people enthusiasm. Such enthusiasm is so rare in today’s reality where we are overwhelmed by anxiety the future. I think we all need a positive thing to happen.
To show that the window of opportunity is open, just look at how intense the contacts on the ministerial level are today between Canada and the EU Member States. Only the blind could not notice how Canada is searching for allies and partners in the EU. A couple of weeks ago King Charles visited Canada – the first visit of the formal head of state of Canada to its territory since 1977. Isn’t that a clear sign which underlines Canada’s “Europeanness”?! In my opinion, it is a clear sign indicating to the world where Canada belongs politically, economically, societally – it belongs to Europe.
From the security point of view, Canada’s EU membership would most likely solve another pressing international issue: the US’s claim to Greenland. Canada already borders the USA in the South and in the West. I dont think Canada would like to have a US border where Greenland is today. And neither do the EU, especially Denmark. So, in order to pre-empt and to avoid that scenario we have to bring Canada into the EU’s orbit.
Finally, to those skeptics who put technicalities before political necessities, I would reply that Canada clearly already meets the threshold for EU membership. It would easily fulfill the so-called Copenhagen criteria, which include the functioning of a stable democracy, strong market economy and the capacity to absorb the acquis communautaire.
How has your proposal been received among the public in the EU and in Canada? Have you identified particular allies or significant points of resistance in moving forward with this vision?
Since I have started the initiative of Canada joining the EU, I have been receiving dozens of support messages every week. And let me just cite one recurring message anonymously: “You have given me hope”. Isn’t it wonderful for a politician to receive such words in multiple letters?
Isn’t it a sign that we are on the right path? I think it is. And speaking of my colleagues, and people I meet in political fora – never have I met someone who would actively oppose the idea of Canada’s EU membership. Some might have legal reservations, some might question the readiness of the EU to absorb another state, some might evoke the need to change the EU treaties. But they are all supportive of the idea in principle.
Of course, our EU treaties need to be changed before we can proceed with any enlargement. This is what our predecessors did in 2007 and 2009 when they reformed the treaty. The treaties should follow the EU’s political project and correspond to the maximum possible extent to the modern reality. The fact is simply that Canada would reinforce the EU in many aspects (defense capability, demography, internal market, budgetary contributions, energy independence, scientific research, etc). And if it is necessary to update our treaties to this new reality and reform the famous article 49 on EU accession – then we must do it. As in every area: there will be hundreds of people who will want to show why it is impossible. But on the other side, there will be hundreds of people who will show you how it IS possible, and I am among them. Politics is the art of the possible. This is something I have understood from my early days in politics. And let’s agree, as ironic as it might sound, it is much more rewarding to work on article 49 rather than on article 50 of the EU Treaty which allows a state to withdraw from the EU.
On June 23, Brussels will host the EU-Canada Summit. We can already expect from it that Canada will want to become a part of the Rearm-EU program. It is the nature of things to build defense alliances in the face of common threats. I would expect Canada to pursue many such elements of European integration. It believe we shall first have so-called “variable geometry integration”, Brussels speak for integration at different speeds in different fields, which will then be followed by substantial or even full integration.
The EU has a great transformative power. The process of joining the EU will change Canada, but this will always be a change based on a voluntary agreement and people’s support. Of course, Canada would join the EU only if Canadians want it. But opinions polls already show that roughly half of the population is favorable to such an outcome. What remains to be done is to work steadily on the institutional level and incentivize people-to-people contacts. And for this work I will spare no effort.
Should Canada apply for the EU membership today, it might take several years of negotiation and reforms, which will fundamentally change our Union and our ties to Canada. Even if Canada does not join the EU, maybe our relationship will resemble those we have with Switzerland or Norway. But one thing is clear: we need to start somewhere.
