1d ago

Could Canada Join the EU?

25 comments

There are so many reason why this is unlikely to happen. That said, the US forming an alliance with Russia seemed unlikely. Yet, here we are.
- The so many reasons are?
  
  You’d have to get the entire union to agree. Including Hungary. Canada would have to change a bunch of stuff around when it comes to movement, currency, etc. The US would likely fight the move by putting its own NATO membership on the table. Assuming there haven’t been any Article 5 violations, then the EU would consider that a very bad deal. The list goes on.
  Now, Canada and the EU increasing trade and allowing freedom of movement is not entirely impossible. I think new alliances are inevitable. I just don’t see Canada in the EU as a likely scenario.
  
  For literally joining the EU: geography, Hungary and the optics of them leaving out places like Kosovo and Bosnia while we go ahead.
  For getting every part of EU membership except the technical status, there's much fewer. The only substantial thing I've heard is that they're afraid of Russia and there's a limit to how much we can help with that, while on the other side they're tempted to just avoid confrontation with the US, or maybe even (wrongly) think they can keep the alliance going.
  I don't know what OP was thinking of, though.
  
  It was someone in the EU that pointed out that the requirement to be European doesn't have a strict definition. Cyprus is a member, but not in Europe because it was found to be 'European in culture'. Turkey is in Asia and is currently negotiating entry. I believe there are others as well, not in Europe.
  Geographically speaking, we share a close sea border with France and a land border with Denmark, the latter even if only technically.
  Politically, while the UK is no longer a part of the EU, it gives us much closer ties to Europe. Our Monarch is European. We have close ties to the UK in our system of government. Culturally, we are very aligned with Europe in general.
  
  The geography is a barrier, but not a dealbreaker, for all the reasons you pointed out. A common pair of languages, and the similarities in ideology and way of life are also arguments for "substantial Europeanness". It's just that they still might politically decide the European Union shouldn't include countries in the Americas, or at least not one bigger than the whole rest of their (non-Greenland?) territory.
  
  Sure, but the counter argument to that is Europe has lots of people, and Canada has lots of space. We could do something with all the empty space we have, and build industry. We would have a potential ready supply of workers to build the infrastructure we would need to settle some of the empty space and build industry, that could then export goods back to the EU.
  We have lots of to offer the EU.
  
  Yes we do. To be clear, I'd except us if I was them. On the other hand I've had discussions with people here who seem to be offended that I'd even suggest it because of the name.

25 comments