EU Canada unification thread

[Crazy_Ivan80]

The United States again provides a good reason for countries to create ties which excludes them.  New tariffs are being imposed on pretty much everybody, this time the excuse being used is protecting exploited workers.

shouldn't the US place tariffs on itself then?

[crazy canuck]

If US policy made any sense, yes.

[HVC]

Looks like his backers asked for a new round of market manipulation.

[crazy canuck]

Finish President suggests EU be expanded to include, among other countries, Canada

Among his more unconventional proposals, Stubb floated the idea of bringing Canada into the EU framework, joking that it would be preferable for Canada to become "the 28th state of the European Union rather than the 51st state of the United States," referencing past comments by US President Donald Trump about Canada's status.

Absolutely correct

[Jacob]

I think the Canada joining the EU is pretty far fetched, but don't let that stop anyone.

I also think that if Canada in whatever capacity joined the EU, there are two potential challenges:

• How do we avoid going down a path of armed conflict with the US when it goes through another one of its Monroe-we're-entitled-to-be-the-hemispherical-hegemon moments?
• Would it still be called the EU?

[The Brain]

I'm all for deeper collaboration with Canada in whatever forms, but joining the EU would seem problematic given the US border.

[Norgy]

There are "associated countries" already, right? Or at least, there was a tier between the EU and the EEA for those on a waiting list, so to speak.

[Grey Fox]

I think the Canada joining the EU is pretty far fetched, but don't let that stop anyone.

I also think that if Canada in whatever capacity joined the EU, there are two potential challenges:

• How do we avoid going down a path of armed conflict with the US when it goes through another one of its Monroe-we're-entitled-to-be-the-hemispherical-hegemon moments?
• Would it still be called the EU?

By waving a big stick too.

[crazy canuck]

I think the Canada joining the EU is pretty far fetched, but don't let that stop anyone.

I also think that if Canada in whatever capacity joined the EU, there are two potential challenges:

• How do we avoid going down a path of armed conflict with the US when it goes through another one of its Monroe-we're-entitled-to-be-the-hemispherical-hegemon moments?
• Would it still be called the EU?

Your first point exists no matter what we do so we might as well put ourselves in the strongest position possible.

We've always been more European than the Americans, so I don't see the second part is being much of a problem.

[Bauer]

An economic and security close alliance makes more sense. Like an extremely comprehensive free trade agreement that also includes labor movement (work visas).

Given the problems with other countries not honouring court decisions in free trade agreements, maybe this loophole could be sealed too in such a deal...

[Jacob]

Your first point exists no matter what we do so we might as well put ourselves in the strongest position possible.

Yeah for sure, but "what we consider our client state sliding into a competing power's sphere of influence" is one of the classic reasons for kicking off war. I think the risk of armed conflict would be heightened during the hypothetical moment of joining.

We've always been more European than the Americans, so I don't see the second part is being much of a problem.

So noted.

[crazy canuck]

I think where we differ is that if the Americans are going to try to invade, the pretext does not matter much.

Might as well give them some pause for concern than just letting them pick us off as a single country.

[HVC]

The stickler in me would need a name change. Westen Democratic Economic Alliance, or something g like that. Although WDEA isn't a great acronym, someone needs to come up with a better one

[crazy canuck]

A naming competition-what could possibly go wrong 

[Sheilbh]

There are "associated countries" already, right? Or at least, there was a tier between the EU and the EEA for those on a waiting list, so to speak.

I don't think so - I mean EEA countries all have free movement I don't think any of the accession countries (mainly the Balkans or Turkiye) have that.

Legally speaking the EU divides the world into "member states" who are within the "Union" (which includes the EEA) and "third countries". There's not a tiered or fractal pattern for countries to join into and it's something that the EU has generally resisted because membership is the leverage. I think Macron has gestured at a more a complex way of engaging with the wider world through the European Political Community - but it's not really been picked up and has more been treated as one of his eccentricities that everyone needs to indulge (he's right - they're wrong).

A naming competition-what could possibly go wrong 

I've mentioned before but I've got a friend who worked in diplomatic/NGO circles in the West Balkan for a while. The US Senator who was drafted in to negotiate the name of Macedonia proposed the Republic of North Macedonia as one of his first suggestions as the name - I think almost 30 years later after many rounds of tortuous negotiation and, I think, the death of that Senator, both sides agreed that the Republic of North Macedonia would be acceptable