EU member countries struggle to ensure that asylum seekers whose claims are rejected leave their territories. The proposal aims to address the problem by sending the migrants to centres called "return hubs" in countries outside the EU while they await deportation proceedings.

The European Union plans to allow countries to return people without the right to stay in the EU to so-called return hubs in third countries, as the rise of anti-immigration parties is pushing the bloc to take an increasingly tough stance.

The European Union will create a common set of procedures for migrant deportations. It has also proposed to create "return hubs" as part of a controversial plan to deport rejected asylum seekers to third countries.

Could Canada join the EU? The seemingly fanciful prospect was addressed by Brussels Wednesday, with a spokesperson saying the bloc was flattered by the interest -- but pointed out being

Interest in Canada joining the EU has increased amid US tensions, with 44% of Canadians supporting the idea. While the EU acknowledges shared values, Canada's geographic distance and historical precedent present challenges for membership.

Could Canada join the EU? Asked whether Canada was eligible to join, she referred to the admission criteria set out in EU treaties -- but stopped short of expressly saying 'no'.