At the Munich Security Conference, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas dismissed narratives of the bloc’s decline, asserting that external interest in EU membership remains strong. She specifically cited Canadian public opinion, noting that over 40 percent of Canadians have expressed interest in joining the union.
Kallas urged the EU to “reclaim agency” and pursue a more assertive global role, directly countering critics who she said describe the union as “woke” and “decadent.” “Contrary to what some may say, woke, decadent Europe is not facing civilizational erasure,” she stated. “In fact, people still want to join our club.”
Her reference aligns with an Abacus Data poll from March 2023, which found 44 percent of 1,500 Canadian adults surveyed favored EU membership. The same poll indicated most Canadians view the EU as their country’s most important partner for the next three to five years.
This sentiment resonates with recent Canadian leadership rhetoric. Prime Minister Mark Carney has emphasized a “natural affinity” with Europe, stating last June, “As the most European of the non-European countries, Canada looks first to the European Union to build a better world.”
This pro-EU stance emerges amid renewed pressure from the United States. President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, accusing Ottawa of long-term subsidization. Canadian officials have firmly rejected annexation, a position mirrored in public opinion. A YouGov poll from spring 2024 showed 77 percent of Canadians firmly opposed joining the United States.
The juxtaposition highlights a potential geopolitical shift. While facing unilateral pressure from its southern neighbor, Canadian public and political discourse increasingly eyes deeper integration with the European Union as a preferred partnership.
Kallas’s comments and the underlying Canadian polling suggest the EU’s attractivity persists despite internal challenges, potentially opening avenues for enhanced transatlantic cooperation that extends beyond traditional NATO frameworks. The development underscores how external threats can reshape long-standing diplomatic alignments.
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