Stubb proposed the idea of a massive enlargement of the union to 40 states on Wednesday at the Eurelectric Power Summit in Helsinki. Thanks to the new members, the European Community would have more weight on the geopolitical scene, CNBC pointed out.
“The window of opportunity for EU enlargement is relatively short, because when the war in Ukraine ends and maybe when the American government changes, people will start arguing about useless things again,” he said.
According to the Finnish president, Europe needs to think on a large scale and create conditions for other European and non-European countries. Montenegro and Albania are currently closest to joining the EU, Ukraine and Moldova will also start accession talks in the coming weeks.
In addition to the candidate states in the south and east of the continent, EU countries should focus on readmission or at least a very close connection with Great Britain.
“Wouldn’t it be great if Canada was the 28th member state of the European Union instead of the 51st state of the United States?” suggested Stubb in connection with the statements of US President Donald Trump, who has several times considered annexing or joining Canada to the US.
According to the Diplomatic Insight server, the Finnish president also reminded Turkey, which has been striving for EU membership since 1987. “No one talks about Turkey anymore, and we have to realize that, at least from a security point of view, Turkey needs to be as close as possible,” he explained.
“And finally the places that are really close to my heart – if you go north, it’s Iceland, where the referendum is taking place, and then Norway,” added Stubb. Despite the fact that the Icelandic parliament voted in favor of organizing the accession to the EU, Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttírová sees no reason for membership in the union.
“We already have close relations with the EU. But if the majority of people are in favor, we should listen to them. But my opinion has not changed,” she revealed in April.
According to the Financial Times, a change of attitude towards Brussels could also take place in Norway, mainly due to the uncertain geopolitical situation between the USA and China. Oslo has already refused membership twice in the past.
