Canada–European Union Relations

Modern contemporary relations between Canada, and the European Union (EU) and its forerunners date back to the 1950s. While the relationship is primarily an economic one, there are also matters of political cooperation. Many Canadians are native speakers of English and French; both being European languages. In addition, several of local provincial and federal government offices of Canada practice official bilingualism in these working languages.

Canada's relations with the European Union has been referred to by the 27 member-bloc as one of the European Union's "global strategic partners" and a "trusted partner for Europe."

Two overseas territories of EU members (Greenland and Saint Pierre and Miquelon) lie adjacent to Canadian territorial waters, as well as a land border with the Kingdom of Denmark (via Greenland) on Hans Island.

History

Canada's relationship with Europe is a result of the historical connections generated by colonialism and mass European immigration to Canada. In the Middle Ages, Canada was first colonized by Vikings on the shores of Baffin Island, along with those of Newfoundland and Labrador. However, centuries later in the Modern Age, it would be mainly colonized by France and, after 1763, it formally joined the British Empire after its conquest in the Seven Years' War. In addition, it also had colonial influence from Spain in British Columbia, plus southern Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The United Kingdom has extremely close relations with Canada, due to its British colonial past, and both being realms of the Commonwealth. However, the United Kingdom ceased to be a European Union member state on 31 January 2020. Historically, Canada's relations with the UK and the United States were usually given priority over relations with continental Europe. Nevertheless, Canada had existing ties with European countries through the Western alliance during the Second World War, the United Nations, and NATO before the creation of the European Economic Community.

Comparisons

Canada's foreign relations with EU member states

Agreements

The history of Canada's relations with the EU is best documented in a series of economic agreements:

In 1976, the European Economic Community (EEC) and Canada signed a Framework Agreement on Economic Co-operation, the first formal agreement of its kind between the EEC and an industrialized third country. Also in 1976 the Delegation of the European Commission to Canada opened in Ottawa.

In 1990, European and Canadian leaders adopted a Declaration on Transatlantic Relations, extending the scope of their contacts and establishing regular meetings at Summit and Ministerial level.

In 1996, a new Political Declaration on EU-Canada Relations was made at the Ottawa Summit, adopting a joint Action Plan identifying additional specific areas for co-operation.

On 30 October 2016, the "Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part" was signed in Brussels. This agreement seeks to deepen political dialogue and cooperation between the EU and Canada and to strengthen relations in fields such as human rights, international peace and security, economic and sustainable development, justice, freedom and security. The agreement provisionally entered into force on 1 April 2017.

Canada–EU Free Trade Agreement

Since as early as June 2007, the Government of Canada led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper had been pressuring the EU and its member countries to negotiate a Canada-EU free trade agreement. Former French prime minister Edouard Balladur supported the idea, while former Canadian trade negotiator Michael Hart called the idea "silly." The Canada Europe Roundtable for Business (CERT), founded in 1999, had been a principal advocate for a free trade agreement supported by more than 100 Canadian and European chief executives. CERT was co-chaired by former Canadian trade minister Roy MacLaren and former editor of ''The Economist'' magazine Bill Emmott.

In June 2009, EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton and Canadian Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day released a joint statement regarding the start of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Minister Day stated "This first meeting represents a solid step toward a historic economic agreement between Canada and Europe. These negotiations are a priority for our government."

Previously, Canada and the EU remained at odds over an EU ban on importing seal products and Canada's visa requirement for the EU citizens of the EU member states of Romania and Bulgaria. The visa requirement for the EU citizens of Romania and Bulgaria were lifted in November 2017.

CETA has been provisionally applied since September 2017. See the article Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement for details of compromises made.

Energy cooperation

In 2023 Canada and the European Union held a summit in Newfoundland and established a framework for joint renewable energy development known as the ''Canada–European Union Green Alliance'' with stated goals to develop shared means for science and technology standards and cooperation as well as climate and environmental protection concerning their net-zero ambitions.

Potential EU membership

Since 2005, several European and Canadian editorialists have considered that Canada could join the European Union (EU). Proponents argue that, unlike the rest of countries of the Americas, the cultural and political values of Canadians and Europeans have much in common, and that Canadian membership would strengthen both sides politically and economically. While conceding that Canada, located in Northern America, and Europe are over distant, being separated by the North Atlantic, proponents note that the EU already has a member outside Europe, Cyprus, that is geographically in Western Asia. In addition, Canada is the closest American sovereign country to the European continent because of its Arctic proximity, specifically to Northern Europe. This could become much more relevant if Greenland joined the European Union again. In turn, Iceland, which is close to Greenland, is geologically located at the junction of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, but is considered a European country politically and historically and culturally. The EU and Canada enjoy a very close and friendly strategic partnership. The Delegation of the EU to Canada, in close cooperation with the missions of EU countries, promotes European culture year-round through a number of well-established public diplomacy activities. These events have been effective in increasing the knowledge and understanding of the EU and its relations with Canada. In 2019, Canada was proposed to join the EU's Horizon Europe scientific research initiative, becoming an Associated Member in 2024. Furthermore, Canada is a member of the Council of the European Space Agency.

In addition, CETA is possibly the farthest-reaching FTA between the EU and a third country. Because of the nature of CETA, some have said that it would not be that far of a leap to EU membership. Canadian provinces of Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick would help to strengthen the Francophone bloc in the EU together with France, Belgium, and Luxembourg (EU membership may also help to curb separatist sentiments in Quebec). Canada can also bring an Anglophone bloc to the EU after Brexit. In addition, it may decrease Canadian dependence on the United States regarding trade and security. It would also easily meet the Copenhagen Criteria for EU membership. Additionally, the EU is Canada's second-largest trading partner. Canadian and EU officials have not yet commented on this. Recently, the constant trade disputes with China and between the North American countries, plus the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, have opened a debate about the possibility of Canada's membership to the EU.

On 23 January 2025, following the second inauguration of Donald Trump, former German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel proposed admitting Canada into the EU, emphasizing Europe's need to look for new allies in light of Trump's second term in office. Shortly thereafter, a trade war between United States and Canada heightened public discussion about Canada joining the EU. In a post on X, former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt advocated for Canada's membership into the EU.

In a March 2025 poll conducted by Abacus Data, 44% of Canadians support the Canadian government looking into joining the European Union given Trump's tariff and annexation threats, while 34% are opposed and 23% are unsure. When asked if there is general support for Canada becoming a member state of the European Union, 46% of Canadians expressed support for a Canadian EU membership, while 29% are opposed and 25% are unsure. In response to the poll, European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho said she is "honoured with the results of such a poll." While not explicitly ruling out Canada's European prospects, Pinho confirmed that Article 49 of the Treaty on the European Union states that only "European states" can apply for EU membership and stressed that there are " criteria foreseen in the treaties, indeed, which foresee what is necessary for an application, for an accession to take place."

Areas of conflict

There is an ongoing tension over the EU ban on the import of seal products. This was thought to be a motivating factor in Canada's efforts to block the EU's efforts to join the Arctic Council.

Canada has also had bilateral territorial disputes with EU member states (see: Turbot War, Territorial claims in the Arctic, and Canada–France Maritime Boundary Case).

Travel

, Canadian passport holders are not required to obtain a visa for visits to the European Union's main Schengen area regarding stays of up to 90-days within any single 180-day span of time. European Union passport holders may be allowed visits up to 180-days to Canada. Canadian passport holders will be required (starting in mid-2025), to obtain an approved visa waiver through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS); while EU passport holders need to similarly secure current Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to negotiate their rights of travel to Canada.

Migration

Under the Migrant Integration Policy Index, published in 2020 the Canadian market was ranked to have an average score of 80%, with ranges between 50 and 100% in several key factors in relation to ease for migrants. Canada's lowest ranked area of 'halfway favourability' being political participation at 50 percent, and the greatest area of favourability being ''Anti-Discrimination'' at 100 percent. The EU sponsored index ranked each of the EU states individually.

See also

* Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
* Delegation of the European Commission to Canada (Ottawa)
* European Canadians
* European Union–NATO relations
* European Union–United States relations
* Foreign relations of Canada
* Foreign relations of the European Union
* List of ambassadors of Canada to the European Union
* Mission of Canada to the European Union (Brussels)
* Canada in World War II

References

Further reading

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External links

Delegation of the European Commission to Canada

The EU's relations with Canada

Mission of Canada to the European Union

Canada - EU: Negotiations Towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement


Animated infographic, European Parliamentary Research Service

{{DEFAULTSORT:Canada-European Union relations

Foreign relations of Canada
Third-country relations of the European Union