Europeans back Canada joining EU, poll finds. But membership faces long odds
A new survey suggests that public opinion in the five largest member states leans in favour of admitting Canada to the European Union.
The research , conducted by international market research and data analytics firm YouGov, surveyed more than 1,000 adults in each of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain. Respondents were asked: “To what extent, if at all, would you support or oppose Canada joining the European Union?”
The results show that a majority or plurality of respondents in all five countries support the idea.
Germany is the most supportive country, with 55 per cent saying they would support Canada’s admittance, followed by Spain at 51 per cent.
In Poland, 46 per cent expressed support, compared to 21 per cent opposed. Support also outweighed opposition in France (42 per cent versus 29 per cent) and Italy (41 per cent versus 24 per cent), while the remainder of respondents said they were unsure.
The survey was conducted between April 9 and 17, 2026, and follows closely on the heels of a Nanos Research survey published April 11, which found that nearly 3 in 5 Canadians (57 per cent) would support Canada becoming an EU member.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney joined the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Yerevan, Armenia, on Monday, making Canada the first non-European country to attend an EPC meeting.
In a recent statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Carney said: “In a more dangerous and divided world, Canada is moving ever closer to our European partners and allies. Bound by our shared values, we are advancing cooperation in defence, energy, and technology to build a more secure and prosperous future on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Both Carney and European leaders have previously addressed the prospect of Canada joining the EU, with France’s foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot saying in March that the EU is attracting more candidate countries, such as Iceland, and suggested “maybe Canada at some point” will sign up.
More recently, Finnish President Alexander Stubb raised the possibility that Canada could one day join the EU.
However, at the NATO summit in the Netherlands last June, Carney said that he is “looking for a closer partnership” with the European Union, but he does not intend for Canada to join the EU.
“That’s not the intent. That’s not the pathway we’re on,” he said.
The relationship between Canada and Europe is rooted in a common history and shared values, and we’re building on that.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) May 4, 2026
In a more divided world, we’re choosing partnership — in trade, defence, and security — to build a more prosperous and secure future together. pic.twitter.com/baXvuGa8HA
Nevertheless, the Liberal government has made clear its intention to strengthen ties with the EU, even as critics warn of potential economic and regulatory consequences.
If Canada were to join, it would become one of its richest members, with its GDP per capita higher than the EU average, and therefore a significant contributor to the EU budget.
National Post columnist and reporter Tristin Hopper previously calculated that Canada could “ expect to spend between $6.5 billion and $20 billion on annual EU payments that never get returned” if it were to become a member state.
EU membership would also require Canada to adopt a wide range of regulatory standards, with changes to trade processes likely to prove both costly and complex.
Mark Camilleri , European Union special advisor at the Business Council of Canada, wrote in a February paper for Policy Magazine , that the “regulatory realignment” needed for Canada to join the EU would “invariably destabilize the Canadian economy in the North American market and beyond.”
As for whether Canada realistically could become the 28th EU member state, the current rules set out in Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union make it effectively impossible.
The Treaty limits membership to “European states,” both geographically and politically, and Canada’s location on the globe rules it out from joining.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos recently addressed the issue when asked by a lawmaker if Canada could become a member, per Politico.
“One (requirement) you fulfill — you are a state. But you are not a European state,” she said.
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