Why Some European Leaders Don’t Want Canada in the EU

Canada wanted to be an “associate member” of the EU, but all we got was an “Alliance for the Future.” So who in Europe is skeptical of getting closer to Canada, and why?

Host Sam talks to three German members of the European Parliament who voted against closer ties with Canada: one from the far-right AfD, a party now leading Germany’s polls, and two elected on the ticket of a populist left-wing party.

They say they like Canada. What they don’t buy is the pitch: shared values, our support for Ukraine, and Europe as Canada’s escape hatch from Trump.

Host: Sam Konnert

Credits: Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor/Post Production), Harrison Lowman (Managing Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)

Guests:

Alexander Sell, AfD member of the European ParliamentMichael von der Schulenburg, non-attached member of the European Parliament; former UN assistant secretary-generalThomas Geisel, non-attached member of the European Parliament; former mayor of DüsseldorfBackground reading:

Canada aims to become EU’s first ‘associate member’ by June 2027, Carney says | EuronewsCanada, European Union officials drop ‘associate member’ from summit declaration | ReutersEU removes mention of ‘associate membership’ from Canada declaration | EuronewsEuropean Parliament calls for stronger EU-Canada partnership | Global Affairs CanadaEU to buy $750 billion of US energy in trade agreement | S&P GlobalNew Eurobarometer shows continued strong support for EU’s response to war in Ukraine | EU Neighbours EastPoilievre calls German politician Christine Anderson’s views ‘vile’ and ‘racist’ | CBC

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