Finland’s President Calls for EU Expansion to 40 States, Floats Canada as Member

Finnish President Alexander Stubb argued Wednesday that the European Union should grow from 27 to 40 member states, CNBC reported, naming Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Norway and Iceland as candidates worth considering.

A Window That Won’t Stay Open

Speaking at the Eurelectric Power Summit in Helsinki, Stubb framed the moment as uniquely favorable for EU enlargement. He warned that the opportunity would close once Russia’s war in Ukraine wound down and political will faded. The pressure created by both the conflict and the current U.S. administration’s posture toward allies was pushing countries to reconsider EU membership, he argued. Stubb said the bloc’s geopolitical weight depends directly on its geographic size and scale.

Also Read: BRICS Expansion and the Fracturing of Global Trade Alliances

Canada Over the 51st State

One of Stubb’s more striking suggestions was bringing Canada into the EU fold. He framed it as a direct counterpoint to President Donald Trump‘s repeated suggestions that Canada could become the 51st U.S. state. Trump posted “51st state!” on Truth Social earlier in the week alongside a report noting Canada had entered a technical recession. Stubb’s rhetorical contrast was pointed. He suggested EU membership would offer Canada a more dignified partnership than absorption into the United States.

Turkey and the Western Balkans Back in Frame

Stubb also urged the EU to revisit its long-stalled relationship with Turkey, a NATO ally whose EU accession process has been effectively frozen for years. He said Turkey’s security value alone made closer ties essential. He also pressed for urgency on the Western Balkans, citing Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina as unresolved cases. Albania and Montenegro are currently considered the frontrunners among Balkan candidates.

Also Read: Ukraine and Moldova Edge Closer to EU Accession Talks

Background on EU Enlargement

The EU is already pursuing what officials describe as its most ambitious enlargement push in a generation. Nine candidate countries are currently in various stages of the accession process, with Ukraine and Moldova the most prominent additions to that list since Russia’s 2022 invasion. The UK left the bloc in 2020 and has not pursued formal re-entry, though Stubb suggested bringing it back “as close as possible.” Iceland has a referendum on membership in progress, and Norway has long maintained close EU ties without full membership through the European Economic Area.

The European Commission did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment on Stubb’s remarks.

Read Next: Trump’s Tariff Threats Reshape Global Trade Diplomacy