As tensions rise in Canada香蕉视频直播檚 already strained relationship with its closest ally, the United States, some, including a former German foreign minister, have suggested the Great White North could join the European Union.  

Results of a recent Abacus Data survey of 1,500 Canadian adults indicate there香蕉视频直播檚 some appetite for the idea: 44 per cent of those polled think the Canadian government 香蕉视频直播渄efinitely or probably香蕉视频直播� should look into joining the European Union, while 34 per cent are opposed to it.

However, Amy Verdun, a professor of political science at the University of Victoria, who founded its European Studies Program in 1997, thinks it's unlikely Canada will become the bloc's 28th member state.  

香蕉视频直播淭hat's one of the most fascinating discussions that we've been seeing in the last couple of weeks because of the bellicose language by the U.S. administration,香蕉视频直播� she told Black Press. 香蕉视频直播淏y 'bellicose', I mean partly the language around that Canada could become part of the U.S.香蕉视频直播�  

At a press briefing on March 12, the European Commission香蕉视频直播檚 chief spokesperson, Paula Pinho, told reporters the results of the poll highlight 香蕉视频直播渢he attractiveness of the European Union.香蕉视频直播�  

香蕉视频直播淥n a possible E.U. application, we will not go into that,香蕉视频直播� she added. 香蕉视频直播淭here are criteria foreseen in the treaties which foresee what is necessary for an application for accession to take place.香蕉视频直播�  

Article 49 of the Treaty on the European Union provides the legal basis for countries looking to join the bloc, which states that any European country may apply. It香蕉视频直播檚 unclear how Canada would qualify under this criterion, but in 1987, the E.U. rejected Morocco's membership application on the grounds that it isn香蕉视频直播檛 a European country.  

According to Verdun, all E.U. countries must agree on accession applications, which could prove difficult, as applicants have to align key policies with the union.

香蕉视频直播淪ome of the policies are more difficult than others,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淔or instance, agriculture could be a major obstacle because it香蕉视频直播檚 a big deal in the E.U., how much money is spent on [it], and to adjust Canadian agriculture to E.U.-level agriculture might take more time than one might expect."

Even if bloc states were to agree to Canada香蕉视频直播檚 membership, the process could take years, added Verdun. Turkey, for example, applied to join in 1987. Accession talks stalled in 2016.

香蕉视频直播淭here are a lot of things that would have to be resolved before Canada could be part of the E.U., and many of these enlargement procedures have taken a very long time,香蕉视频直播� said the professor. 香蕉视频直播淚f you look at the negotiations between the E.U. and, say, central and eastern European countries or ... Austria, Sweden and Finland, it still takes a couple of years.香蕉视频直播�  

Verdun explained the topic wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be a point of discussion if the Canada-U.S. relationship hadn香蕉视频直播檛 soured.

香蕉视频直播淚t is extremely unlikely to have percolated up to the agenda without this behaviour of the United States,香蕉视频直播� said Verdun. 香蕉视频直播淚f the United States stops with that tomorrow, then I think we'd have some serious healing to do, but we would be able to go back to business as usual.香蕉视频直播�   

As the trade war persists between once friendly neighbours, the likelier possibility, then, is that Canada seeks to strengthen trade and defence relationships with its European partners, added Verdun.

香蕉视频直播淭here's a lot of space for Canada and the E.U. to come closer without having to make legal changes,香蕉视频直播� she said.