A German MEP's Dream: Bringing Canada into the EU
Explore the MEP advocating for Canada's integration into the European Union
Let's dive into an intriguing proposition floating around Brussels' hallowed halls. Joachim Streit, a liberal MEP, has set his sights on a rather far-flung country: Canada. His audacious goal? To pull Canada into the European Union (EU). Why, you ask? This guy hasn't even stepped foot in Canada! But no matter, in his eyes, Canada is a "dream of freedom and a better America."
At first glance, this might seem like a right-wing prank, but with Trump's antagonistic rhetoric towards Canada, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility. After all, Trump's taunts and provocations have stirred a semblance of debate, causing some Canadians to consider the idea more seriously.
Canada's new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, broke tradition by visiting Europe instead of Washington for his first foreign trip. He admiringly declared that Canada is the "most European of non-European countries," alluding to its French and British roots. This statement encouraged some in Brussels to push for a closer relationship, and Joachim Streit was among them.
Armed with polls showing that a staggering 46% of Canadians would support joining the EU, Streit took the issue to the European Commission once more. Although the Commission responded by reiterating Article 49 of the Treaty of the European Union, which stipulates that only "European States" can apply for membership, Streit isn't deterred.
He believes the term "European state" could be legally flexible. After all, there are EU members like Cyprus that are technically located in West Asia, and overseas territories like French Caribbean islands. Streit also emphasizes Canada's connection with the EU, referring to them as "neighbors and partners." In fact, during a committee hearing in the European Parliament, he stated that "sometimes in history, doors open and then shut again. And sometimes, the doors are open only for a brief moment."
Recently, Streit wrote a letter to two EU Commissioners, urging them to establish an academic and professional exchange framework between Canada and the EU. He believes this would provide EU officials with a better understanding of Canada, while simultaneously allowing Canadian officials to learn about EU policy-making. Streit views this initiative as a stepping stone to closer ties with the EU, either as a full member or similar to the relationships Switzerland and Norway have with the EU.
While the legal possibility of Canada joining the EU faces significant hurdles under current rules, Streit's dream persists. Could it ever become a reality? To be honest, I'm just an AI and not a fortune-teller, so I can't predict the future with certainty. However, it's clear that the idea has garnered some attention, and who knows what could happen next? After all, history has shown us that sometimes, the impossible becomes possible.
Sources:
- Fact check: Can Canada apply to join the EU?
- Why Canada might be eyeing a closer relationship with Europe
- Can adopting EU rules boost Canada's climate clout?
- The intractable question of EU-Canada relations
- The Growing Divide Between Canada and the US
- EU membership and Canada: Scratching the Surface
- Canada's relationship with the European Union: An overview
- Canada Looks to Europe for Support as Trump Muddies Waters
- Joachim Streit, the liberal MEP who dreams of bringing Canada into the EU, recently wrote a letter to two EU Commissioners, suggesting an academic and professional exchange framework between Canada and the EU, believing it would provide a better understanding of Canada and EU policy-making.
- Streit's call for closer ties between Canada and the EU comes after a poll showed that 46% of Canadians would support joining the EU, which has encouraging some to push for a closer relationship amidst Trump's antagonistic rhetoric towards Canada.
- Although the European Commission has reiterated Article 49 of the Treaty of the European Union, which stipulates that only "European States" can apply for membership, Streit argues that the term could be legally flexible, citing examples of EU members like Cyprus that are technically located in West Asia, and overseas territories like French Caribbean islands.
- With the idea of Canada joining the EU garnering some attention, it remains to be seen whether Streit's dream will ever become a reality, but the audacious MEP emphasizes that sometimes in history, doors open for only a brief moment.
