With its alliance with the U.S. under strain, could Canada become part of the EU? 

Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union does not explicitly define what it means to be “European.” Instead, the determination of whether a country qualifies as European is left to political discretion. 

Historically, only one non-European nation has attempted to join the EU. In 1987, Morocco’s application was rejected on the grounds that it did not meet the criteria of being a “European country.”

Canadians tend to favour gun control, oppose the death penalty, and support a robust welfare state with regulations on the free market — aligning closely with European values. Moreover, Canada’s political and legal institutions are based in European models, and over half of its population traces its ancestry to Europe.

Canada could provide the EU with access to abundant strategic resources, including rare earth minerals and fossil fuels, which are scarce in Europe. In return, Canada could gain access to Europe’s vast and skilled labour market while reducing its reliance on the U.S. and its unpredictable political climate.

So is it going to take place? Very unlikely. 

The EU already has a lengthy queue of candidates—10 in total—including countries like Albania, which has been waiting for decades.

As Europe expands with more members, reaching consensus on who should be admitted becomes increasingly difficult. Decisions on this, as well as on sensitive issues like security and immigration, are made through unanimous agreement.

However, the EU could explore the possibility of forming entirely new alliances. 

But there is also the risk that any effort to strengthen ties with Europe could trigger increased aggression from the United States.