Finnish president says Canada could theoretically join EU

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has suggested that the European Union could theoretically expand beyond Europe, saying Canada could potentially become a member.

In an interview with CBC, Stubb said he “can envisage a much larger EU,” Caliber.Az reports.

However, according to him, any decision on membership would ultimately rest with Canada itself.

He noted that Canada’s values are closely aligned with those of Europe, making such integration theoretically possible.

“I think Canada in terms of its whole composure, its value base, is so close to the European Union that the least we can do is to forge a really close strategic partnership,” he added.

The comments came during Stubb’s visit to Ottawa, where he held talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Canadian authorities have previously stressed, nevertheless, that they are not considering EU membership.

The idea of closer ties between Canada and the EU has been discussed in expert circles in recent years amid geopolitical tensions and debates over the future role of Western alliances.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov