Markus Becker in Der Spiegel: ‘The obstacles to Canadian EU membership would be considerable, to be sure, but by no means insurmountable.’ And: ‘What is already the largest joint economic area in the world would not simply grow bigger through Canadian accession. It would also gain considerable political weight. The EU would suddenly be a Pacific and Arctic littoral power, which would put it in an entirely new position vis-à-vis Russia and China.’

As well: ‘EU membership without joining the Schengen, border-free travel area. Which would mean that things would largely stay as they are for travelers.’

An obstacle: ‘The most obvious objection is that Canada is not in Europe. Under Article 49 of the EU treaty, only a "European state" may join the Union. Nowhere, though, is it defined what "European" actually means.’

European means being a member of the EU. Australia may become European in a decade or two.

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