As the parliament says
In order to apply for EU membership, a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values
Since according to Article 49
The applicant country must […] be a European state;
https://publications.europa.eu/resource/cellar/0ae670d2-1ece-4994-b1e3-adda39e1c6de.0006.03/DOC_1
Thinking outside the
boxcontinent. I like it