“Today, nine countries are official candidates for joining the EU. Others may join them,” said Barrot. “Iceland in a few weeks or months. And sometimes even Canada,” Politico quotes the minister as saying.
According to him, the French head of diplomacy did not mean it as a specific political proposal, but as part of a broader argument that the European Union is becoming a “third superpower” capable of balancing the rivalry between the United States and China.
At the conference, Barrot presented Europe as a region with a unique position, which can bring countries together thanks to its economic strength, democratic model and regulatory power. “Many countries around the world are willing to come closer to our union,” he said.
In addition to Barrot, it was also suggested by Finnish President Alexandr Stubb, who, during a joint run, suggested Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to “consider” joining the EU.
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Even Canadians are not against membership in the European Union. According to a survey published on the Canadian server Abacus Data, 48 percent of people are in favor of entry, of which 20 percent support it “strongly”, while 28 “somewhat”. On the contrary, 28 percent of people are against it and 24 percent either do not know or are not sure.
The discussion about Canada’s possible membership in the EU was sparked, among other things, by the deteriorated relationship between Ottawa and Washington. American President Donald Trump has also stated several times that Canada could become the 51st American state. However, Ottawa refuses to do so.
