What to know
- Alexander Stubb suggested Canada could potentially join the European Union, citing strong alignment in values and governance.
- The comments came during Stubb’s Ottawa visit with Prime Minister Mark Carney, aimed at strengthening economic and security ties.
- While no formal discussions are underway, Stubb emphasized deeper strategic partnership could one day be a step between Canada and the European Union.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb suggested that Canada could one day become a part of the European Union (EU).
The President made the comments to reporters on Wednesday, as he is currently on a two-day visit to Ottawa, where he is meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney to deepen the two countries’ economic ties.
During an interview with CBC reporter Rosemary Barton, Stubb, who holds a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), revealed that his PhD thesis involved flexible integration, which includes the idea that not all EU members have “to do the same thing” and could act independently from other members.
Based on that idea, the president shared he believes Canada heavily shares values with EU countries, and could potentially become a part of the union.
“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 said to Barton.
“What that then leads to in the end with the EU—which started at six [members], ended up with 28, then after Brexit, 27— I don’t know, I can envisage a much larger EU, whether Canada is a part of it or not is up to Canada to decide.”
According to Stubb, the two countries share similar values, including their “calm and collected” attitude.
“I think Finns and Canadians are quite similar…We’re cool, calm and collected except in the ice hockey rink. And then when the going gets tough, we go to the sauna and take an ice bath and calm down,” he added.
The possibility of joining the EU has not officially been discussed by Canadian officials.
This is not the only time Finland–Canada’s close relationship has been discussed.
Last year, Stubb and Carney released a joint statement announcing a new foreign security partnership, which they say reflects both countries’ priorities and recognize “their long history of friendship, like-mindedness, and close bilateral cooperation.”
The two countries also share a trade relationship, which included a $2.4 million bilateral merchandise exchange in 2025.
During the most recent visit, Stubb also revealed that he and Carney have a close relationship, and even text each other daily.
The two have also recently practiced their ice hockey skills alongside Ottawa’s Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday.
“Mark and I, we message each other pretty much every day. It’s really good to be here,” he said in a video shared on Carney’s social media.
