Could Canada join the EU? Unlikely … but not impossible

Ian Bond, deputy director at the Center for European Reform, believes “it would be extremely difficult to make the case that Canada is a European country” for several reasons.

Even if it were to pass the test of so-called Europeanness, “practical economics” would get in the way, he said.

“Canada would then have to put the customs border between itself and the U.S. and apply EU tariffs and regulations on imports from the US … It would be incredibly economically destructive. It would outweigh any benefits that it might expect to get from the [EU] membership over many, many years,” Bond added.

He said that allowing a new member into the bloc would require unanimity — and even referendums in some member countries, such as France.

“How often have French farmers voted in favor of free trade with other parts of the world? … They are more likely to set things on fire in an effort to prevent it from happening,” he added.