1 hour ago
3
Carney says Canada seeks "unique alliance" but not membership with the European Union
Canada is exploring a much closer relationship with the European Union amid its worsening trade and political tensions with the US, with reports suggesting Ottawa is considering a new form of “associate membership” with the bloc.
The proposal, reported by The Wall Street Journal, would seek deeper economic and strategic integration between Canada and the EU without Canada becoming a full EU member.However, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has stressed that Canada is not seeking EU membership. He has described the proposed relationship as a “unique alliance” based on shared values, priorities and strengths.The idea is significant because a closer relationship could eventually make it easier for Canadians to do business, work, study and potentially move between Canada and European countries.For now, however, Canadians remain non-EU nationals and do not have the automatic right to settle in any EU country."Wouldn’t it be lovely if Canada was the 28th state of the European Union rather than the 51st state of the United States?" asked Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who speaks regularly with Carney, as reported by WSJ.
Can Canadians currently move to Europe and settle?
Not simply because they are Canadian.Canadian passport holders can travel to countries in the Schengen area without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
That is a visitor entitlement, not a right to live or work permanently in Europe.A Canadian who wants to stay in an EU country for longer than 90 days generally has to obtain the appropriate long-stay visa or residence permit from that country.The rules are decided largely at the national level. The European Union itself does not issue a single “EU residence visa” that allows a Canadian to simply settle anywhere in the bloc.
The European Commission specifically says applications for visas and residence permits must be made directly to the authorities of the EU country where the person intends to move.That means a Canadian wanting to move to France, Germany, Spain, Italy or another EU country has to qualify under that country's immigration system.
How can a Canadian currently settle in an EU country?
The route depends on the individual's circumstances.A Canadian may qualify for residence through employment, study, family reunification, highly skilled work, entrepreneurship or other national immigration programmes.For example, a Canadian who receives a qualifying job offer in an EU country may be able to obtain a work visa or residence permit. A student can apply for a student residence permit, while a person joining a qualifying family member can use family-reunification rules.EU immigration rules cover categories including highly qualified workers, intra-company transferees, seasonal workers, researchers and students, but individual EU countries make the final decision on applications.A Canadian who legally lives in an EU country for a sufficiently long period may eventually qualify for long-term resident status. Under EU rules applicable in most member states, a non-EU national who has legally resided in an EU country for five years may be eligible for long-term resident status, subject to conditions such as sufficient financial resources and health insurance.
