Helsinki (TDI): Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has called for a major expansion of the European Union, arguing that the bloc should “think big” and grow into a geopolitical power of up to 40 member states, potentially including countries outside Europe such as Canada.
Speaking at an energy conference in Helsinki, Stubb said the EU must take advantage of what he described as a narrow window of opportunity shaped by global instability, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and shifting US foreign policy priorities. He warned that momentum for enlargement could fade once geopolitical conditions change.
He suggested that EU membership or close association should be considered for countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Turkiye, Norway, and Iceland, alongside accession candidates in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe.
Stubb argued that the EU’s global influence depends on scale and cohesion, saying that “European strategic autonomy” is ultimately tied to the bloc’s size and capacity to act collectively. He described enlargement as the most effective long-term European policy tool.
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Among his more unconventional proposals, Stubb floated the idea of bringing Canada into the EU framework, joking that it would be preferable for Canada to become “the 28th state of the European Union rather than the 51st state of the United States,” referencing past comments by US President Donald Trump about Canada’s status.
He also urged renewed engagement with Turkiye, saying it remains strategically important despite reduced political attention in recent years. Stubb added that stability in the Western Balkans, including Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, should remain a priority for European policymakers.
The Finnish president further highlighted northern Europe, pointing to Iceland and Norway as potential future members or closely integrated partners. Iceland has recently moved toward a referendum on whether to restart EU accession talks, while Norway has twice previously rejected membership but continues to maintain close ties with the bloc.
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The European Union is currently pursuing its largest enlargement effort in decades, with several candidate countries, including Ukraine and Moldova, working toward membership talks. Montenegro and Albania are widely seen as frontrunners in the Western Balkans accession process.
Stubb’s remarks reflect growing debate within Europe over how far the EU should expand and whether it should evolve into a broader geopolitical bloc capable of competing with other major global powers.
