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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.

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[–] BookSnob@lemmy.ca 15 points 14 hours ago

As a Canadian, I support the idea of trade agreements with the EU, especially ones that could benefit our Indigenous communities. I support allyship with the EU. But I don’t want to be a part of the EU. We can’t ditch Mexico.

[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 12 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (2 children)

EU/Canadian dual citizen here: full membership doesn't make sense. Deeper integration to the point of having a customs union would probably be quite reasonable. I'm not sure about free movement of people however because the two parties have different attitudes to immigration. Canada cherishes immigration and cultural diversity, and considers it to be a defining national characteristic. Multiculturalism is quite literally baked in our constitution. European attitudes on the other hand, let's just say, I don't miss them. Beyond that, I don't think Canada needs the Euro (and the stability pact straightjacket) any more than it needs the USD.

[–] Syntha@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

Europe doesn't even want to ratify CETA and Canada would have to ditch USMCA to join the customs union. Makes no economic sense, never gonna happen.

[–] Barbarian@sh.itjust.works 5 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

I enjoy the "Canada can into EU?" memes, they're fun. It's also really nice that in this period of insanity we can help each other.

That said, yeah. A trade agreement that drops basically all friction, bilateral visa agreements that make travel and business easier & cooperation on military purchases would be the ideal scenario. There's a ton of things the EU and Canada can help each other with without Canada becoming a member.

[–] steiner@nrw.social 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

@Barbarian would be great if EU finds a „second class“ membership where we only have a good travel and economy system with other countries but not a full membership. But when we look at UK, who left the EU, and how we struggle to find the way back to each other it‘s quite hard to imagine something like that at the moment. 😫

[–] Barbarian@sh.itjust.works 4 points 13 hours ago

The EU has multiple "second class" membership options. Multiple non-EU countries are in Schengen, even more have no visa requirements.

Multiple countries have trade deals with the EU, including Canada (as soon as CETA gets fully completed).

[–] Hotznplotzn@lemmy.sdf.org 68 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If someone had told me ten years ago that in 2025 the UK would have long left the EU and we were talking about a membership of Canada, I would have declared them bewildered. LOL.

[–] NotLemming@lemm.ee 9 points 20 hours ago

I think the UK will have to rejoin now. We're too vulnerable.

[–] Jimius@lemmy.ml 34 points 1 day ago (3 children)

The EU is not a geographical union despite it's name. Even then, Canada and Europe share a common border; the Atlantic Ocean. Also it's part of the Commonwealth, Has a strong economy, social politics, The Greco-Roman and Judaeo-Christian tradition. And they speak the two most common European languages. Canada makes more sense than Türkiye if you disregard distance.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 32 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Even then, Canada and Europe share a common border; the Atlantic Ocean.

  • land border with Denmark
  • sea border with France.

If the UK can join the EU, then Canada can join the EU.

[–] CheeseNoodle@lemmy.world 12 points 22 hours ago

I mean the UK is geographically European no matter how much a certain segment of the population likes to think otherwise.

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[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 5 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

One thing many Europeans tend to forget is that Islam is pretty much a European cultural tradition too. Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania are European countries. If Cyprus were reunited it would also count as one of the countries with a significant Muslim population. And there are traditional non-immigrant Muslim minorities in other places, like Greece, Bulgaria and North Macedonia. And of course, Muslim immigrants have lived long enough in European countries like France and Germany to start having legitimate claim at being part of the cultural fabric of those countries too.

[–] shirro@aussie.zone 5 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

Muslims ruled the Iberian peninsula for about 800 years. Islam had a very productive golden age of great scholarship, science and maths that had a huge influence on European thought and progress.

[–] shirro@aussie.zone 4 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

France's longest land border is with Brazil. Brazil has not been invited to the EU despite being the past home of the Portuguese throne which in a reverse colonialism move kind of makes Brazil a past European power, majority Catholic and they speak a European language. Brazil would be the fourth largest economy in Europe, ahead of Canada with higher economic growth. They would be past Italy and aiming for the French position in no time.

Pakistan, India, South Africa and Nigeria are Commonwealth countries. How about bringing in the other European ex-colonies? Indonesia has a lot of potential, similar sized economy to their old rulers the Netherlands and growing faster.

The reason Europe likely would be receptive to Canada isn't cultural. It isn't language. It is that they have a relatively small population with relatively high incomes and a lot of resources. They don't threaten the status quo.

[–] naeap@sopuli.xyz 18 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Holy fuck, yes!!

Canada, come join us!

And Greenland should get to be a sovereign state as part of the EU as well - if they want to

That would be just fucking awesome all around! :⁠-⁠D

[–] CAVOK@lemmy.world 9 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

Well, Greenland was an EU member, but they left. Can't remember when, but it was before brexit, so the UK wasn't the only, or even the first, to leave. Possibly the last though, as the appetite for leaving seems to have dropped significantly.

[–] naeap@sopuli.xyz 7 points 20 hours ago

As the current world situation looks very different, I think the EU is a much more attractive option - at least I hope so

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[–] e8d79@discuss.tchncs.de 23 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

I think full membership is very unlikely, but maybe Canada can join the EU Customs Union or even the Schengen Area at some point in the future.

[–] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 7 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

I would fully welcome the Canadians and Canadiens into the EU. It means St. Pierre and Miquelon would not have a border anymore. Win win!!!

[–] justOnePersistentKbinPlease@fedia.io 24 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yeah, all for it.

We can thank Stephen Harper and Pierre Polievre for ignoring Europe for so long when we should have been there for you guys, helping you separate from Putin's oil and gas.

Hopefully Carney will remedy that situation, and we can all get rid of the despotic sycophants.

[–] Tm12@lemmy.ca 2 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Dead Eyes Harper signed CETA (European Free Trade Agreement) which was negotiated in private.

Oh sure, but he illegally rammed three pipelines through to the BC coast to give oil and LNG to China, which doesn't want it.

Meanwhile he ignored the potential of a pipeline to the Maritimes, which could then ship oil and LNG to Europe. That would have revitalized the Maritimes and provided a much needed competitor to Russia.

[–] TheFeatureCreature@lemmy.ca 28 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I can't imagine Canada joining like a normal EU member country would. But I do hope Canada enters into special cooperation and trade agreements if possible.

[–] Hubi@feddit.org 27 points 1 day ago (2 children)
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[–] Maalus@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

CETA has been around for ages. Now if only taxes weren't applied on imported goods, we'd be set.

[–] miss_demeanour@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 1 day ago (9 children)

Canada actually shares a land border with the EU.
There are so many regulatory hurdles, especially in farming and agriculture.

[–] shirro@aussie.zone 3 points 17 hours ago

Canada actually shares a land border with the EU.

Brazil has a stronger claim if that was is all that counted.

Georgia has no such claim but is a great candidate for EU membership.

[–] Jimius@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 day ago

While technically correct. I don't think the existence of Hans Island, an uninhabited speck between Greenland and Canada really counts as a land border between the EU and Canada. Any trade would happen by ship or plane directly between the continents. Not a border corssing on Hans Island.

Although, if EU rules require some kind of land border... Hans Island might be important after all.

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[–] aleq@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (6 children)

I can't imagine it and my gut feeling is that it's a terrible idea for the same reason as having the US be our military was a terrible idea. Geolocation matters, and Canadas location means it has interests that are fundamentally different from the EU. A major thing is that it doesn't have Russia breathing down its neck.

It also feels like a slippery slope where we'll eventually have Mexico and, god forbid, the US joining as well. Then suddenly the will of European countries is overshadowed by these North American giants.

That said, Canada is cool and joining forces against the US is good.

[–] sloppychops@lemmy.ca 7 points 19 hours ago

Canada very much has Russia breathing down its neck.

Look at a globe focused on the North Pole, and you will see that Russia, Canada, and Scandanavia all basically form a ring framing the Arctic ocean. Russia asserting itself in the Arctic is a major issue for us, and the situation could very well deteriorate as climate change intensifies.

[–] jaxxed@lemmy.ml 10 points 23 hours ago

If you are trying to say that Canada doesn't have Russia breathing down its neck, then you are wrong. Tensions over the Arctic have been high for years.

[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 9 points 23 hours ago

We're only one border removed via Alaska (which might as well be Russia if things keep going this way). And with the arctic ice melting, Russian warships & subs could directly threaten our north and west coasts.

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[–] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 3 points 19 hours ago (1 children)
[–] shirro@aussie.zone 4 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

Nah, Eurovision is enough. We are happy to be everyones mates and have access to their markets. Our focus is Asian markets and it hurts our interests enough that some in the region view us as a remnant of European colonialism without us leaning into that. We aren't colonial and we aren't European. We need to find our own identity. Unlike Canada we aren't heavily dependent on exports to the US and desperate to find a replacement. Our equivalent would be a trade war with China and we have already proved we can cope with that.

I am more concerned about the US alliance. If they can shit on Ukraine and by extension Europe all our strategic planning and defence investments are worthless overnight as we can't rely on parts, or support let alone US forces showing up.

[–] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 1 points 7 hours ago

No I meant we should join Australia too

[–] seejur@lemmy.world 2 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

We European would be happy to have you in, but unlike the US, we are not forcing someone to join. If Australia does not want to join, happy to have them in Eurovision only

[–] Disgruntled@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Can’t we use our close proximity to Saint Pierre and Miquelon as a foot in the door?

[–] cygnus@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago (4 children)

Can't wait for Brazil to join the EU on that basis.

[–] Disgruntled@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] jabathekek@sopuli.xyz 6 points 23 hours ago

"Wait, it's all the European Union?"

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