As Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares for a September 15-17 trip to Europe, new polling conducted by Abacus Data reveals broad Canadian support for deepening ties with the European Union.
According to the survey conducted September 4-9, 81% of Canadians support closer integration between Canada and the EU while Canada remains outside the bloc. The proposed integration would include making it easier to trade, travel, work and study in each other’s countries, as well as cooperation on security.
Support for deeper strategic cooperation on foreign policy, defence, and economic priorities reaches 80%, up six points from February 2026. The polling found 44% strongly support such cooperation, while 36% somewhat support it. Only 10% oppose the idea.
When asked about EU membership directly, 49% of Canadians say they would support Canada becoming a member state of the EU, with 30% opposed and 21% unsure. Support varies by political affiliation: 64% of Liberal voters support membership, compared with 56% of NDP voters, 57% of Bloc Québécois voters, and 33% of Conservative voters.
Regionally, support for EU membership is highest in Quebec at 55%, followed by British Columbia at 54% and Ontario at 51%.
The polling also shows significant shifts in Canadian views of international relationships. Positive impressions of the EU stand at 71%, up five points since February. The UK reaches 74% positive impressions, up eight points. By contrast, only 21% of Canadians hold a positive impression of the United States, down three points, with 75% expressing a negative impression.
According to the survey, 61% of Canadians believe a closer Canada-EU relationship would increase Canada’s economic independence by improving access to markets and essential supplies. Only 9% think it would reduce economic independence.
When asked about their values and outlook, 56% of Canadians say Canada has more in common with EU countries than the United States, while just 16% say Canada has more in common with the US.
During his Europe visit, Carney is scheduled to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg, attend European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the European Union address, and meet with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Liverpool. Defence, security, energy, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals are expected topics of discussion.
Key facts
- 81% of Canadians support closer Canada-EU integration while Canada remains outside the EU
- 80% support deeper strategic cooperation with the EU on foreign policy, defence, and economics
- 49% would support Canada becoming an EU member state
- Only 21% of Canadians hold a positive view of the United States, down 3 points since February
- 71% have a positive impression of the EU, up 5 points since February
- 61% believe closer Canada-EU ties would increase Canada’s economic independence