r/interesting • u/Weary_Position_9591 • Sep 17 '26
SOCIETY The European Union accepts Canada as its first “Associate Member”
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u/Flat-Tumbleweed5375 Sep 17 '26 edited Sep 17 '26
Offered. Not accepted as this has never been done before. Carney will be mulling it over and obviously talking with "the guys" before the next meeting in October
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u/buck_silver Sep 17 '26
The motivation is very high, and the sentiment is there for both populations. I'd be shocked if this doesn't happen at this point tbh.
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u/SchnabeltierSchnauze Sep 17 '26
Whether Ursula offers it is one thing, how it happens is another. There is no such thing as associate membership in the EU treaties, so they would have to be amended with all 27 members approving unanimously. Not impossible, but not easy either.
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u/GrumbusWumbus Sep 17 '26
Yeah at this point Canada already has an incredibly close relationship with Europe. You could just bundle up the current agreement and call it "associate membership status"
We don't know what it would actually look like and it could be anything from freedom of movement, trade, and a military alliance to nothing more than a free trade agreement or anywhere in between.
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u/Alien_Diceroller Sep 17 '26
I doubt freedom of movement would be part of it. I can see freer movement with visas to make work trips and working between Canada and the EU easier.
Maybe closer regulatory alignment. The closer military ties are already on their way.
Like you said, it's very possible they'll just call whatever the final shape of the Canada-EU agreements Associate Membership.
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u/Articulated Sep 17 '26
I imagine a load of Canadian young folks would leap at the chance for a 12-month study/work exchange in an EU country.
So many opportunities if the governments think creatively!
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u/squngy Sep 17 '26
I thought that would have been possible already, but I guess Canada could become a full Erasmus member.
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u/Harbinger2001 29d ago
Carney specifically mentioned joining Erasmus+. So it’s coming. I think the financing might take a bit to work out.
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u/machine4891 Sep 17 '26
I don't doubt that and it serves Canadian well. However, lots of folks of Union of 450 million people would love to see same option in Canada and 40 million nation may not take it as easy as some Canadians dilluten in the entire Europe.
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u/vanalla Sep 17 '26
Sure, but what does Associate Member mean? It needs to be laid out bare and clear to both Canadians and EU citizens.
How much control does the EU have over CAD fiscal policy, and vice versa?
Does Canada get to vote on who else becomes an EU member, or on future EU parliamentary concerns?
Do Canadians receive access to the Schengen Area? Do Europeans receive live/work visas in Canada?
For each of these questions, and dozens more I can't list here, what are the specific nuances?
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u/buck_silver Sep 17 '26
We'll just have to wait and see, but European policies aren't far off from Canada's to begin with, and the problematic ones are the ones with the US's fingerprints all over them - which Canada has clear motivations to rethink.
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u/HairyMost6950 Sep 17 '26
Carney would have been fully briefed this was coming from Ursula. There’s no way this was televised and he’s now going off to think about it
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u/Mr_Pookers Sep 17 '26
Yeah, she didn't spring this on him. In fact, he's been a driving force in getting European leaders on board with this idea. He's been talking to them personally for months. Source
He's developed working relationships with many of them as leader of one of the biggest banks in Europe, and that's partly why he had such open communication lines with them.
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u/Diligent-Ad4777 Sep 17 '26
This wouldn't be offered unless it was already basically guaranteed it would be accepted. Otherwise it would be very embarrassing for the EU if they offered and then Canada turned it down.
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u/jam_pod_ Sep 17 '26
It’s a done deal. However there are no “associate members” of the EU except for now Canada. So what associated membership actually involves is very much TBD
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u/laplongejr Sep 17 '26
For non-europeans, CGPgrey's video about multiple kinds of EU agreements is still kinda correct 13 years later : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O37yJBFRrfg
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u/kumogate Sep 17 '26
Correct. What comes next are formalities (like introducing it for discussion and "debate" in Parliament before being accepted and endorsed by sitting MPs), then details on what this would involve, then formal signing of agreements, ratification, alignment of laws and policies, etc.
Despite all the work ahead, we're definitely making this happen, and this Canadian is absolutely thrilled about it.
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u/cr0ft Sep 17 '26
Canada is feeling might lonely right now since America has straight-up turned on them.
An associate member has to be a "softer" member (ahem) with both fewer benefits but also fewer responsibilities; honestly, I can see this being very attractive to Canada in the current political climate. There's nothing that says a nation on another continent cannot join the Union fully, even.
Canada's foreign trade has already sharply gone from over 90% to the US to being in the 70% range and that's just during the time the insane orange ape has been President.
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u/jotheold Sep 17 '26
technically we border denmark/france but yes geographically we're in a different continent
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u/GentleWhiteGiant Sep 17 '26
The term "associated member" doesn't even exist with regard to the EU. Anyway, a good idea.
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u/TreesRocksAndStuff Sep 17 '26
Lake European Union confirmed??? /s
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u/Leupateu Sep 17 '26
That would probably be the biggest troll they could do lmao
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u/MegaSmegmaSwagLord Sep 17 '26
This is amazing. Canada is one step closer to getting into Eurovision. Oh my god, it’s a dream come true.
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u/NoMedicine3572 Sep 17 '26
It's a win-win, I guess. Canada has huge natural resources, and Europe can reduce its dependence on Russia, while Canada gets a reliable trading partner.
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u/MegaSmegmaSwagLord Sep 17 '26
It’s a huge win for everybody, the Canadians are going to be a lovely new addition.
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u/Whitney189 Sep 17 '26
As a Canadian, I'm very much looking forward to the future! I've always wanted closer ties to Europe
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u/Kagenlim Sep 17 '26
Next up It's time to readd the UK and add in Australia and New Zealand too
Honestly shameless self plug, but Singapore would be a good EU candidate too
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u/yanagiya Sep 17 '26
As a fellow Singaporean, I'll be ecstatic if our government reach out to EU for consideration to be a partner too.
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u/Kagenlim Sep 17 '26
Honestly I really just want some sort of Schengen pact between Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, seeing how all 3 of us are essentially brother nations. Heck, Australia rn owns 2 formerly Singaporean territory, namely Coco Kneelings and Christmas Island
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u/Citron-Important Sep 17 '26
Schengen shenanigans
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u/Which_Celebration757 29d ago
Shawnigan seems like the logical Canadian add in here but the context doesn't really match
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u/foolsdayjoker Sep 17 '26
I mean at that point you’re just adding everyone which you shouldn’t do… Canada is kinda of an anomaly when it comes to status in the EU already, have to remember Canada also shares borders with Denmark and France so there’s a lot responsibility with EU and Nordic partners hence why Canada takes part in Nordic exclusive summits and exercises
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u/Gerf93 Sep 17 '26
> Honestly shameless self plug, but Singapore would be a good EU candidate too
Singapore scores 123rd in the world on freedom of the press, and is ranked "partially free" by Freedom House and a "flawed democracy" by The Economist. Political scientists call the country "soft authoritarian" or "semi authoritarian". While economically prosperous and with low corruption, the political landscape of Singapore as a functional one-party state makes EU candidacy extremely unlikely.
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u/055F00 Sep 17 '26
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u/Wise_Monkey_Sez Sep 17 '26
EU membership has never been a requirement for being in Eurovision as evinced by completely random nations being included for absolutely no reason.
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u/Eek_the_Fireuser Sep 17 '26
As an Aussie, I always did wonder what the fuck we are doing here. Oh well, let's sing 🎶
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u/South_Can_2944 Sep 17 '26
Australia has had a VERY long relationship with Eurovision.
We have supported the contest since the early 1980s (broadcasting on Australian television).
I used to love watching it for Terry Wogan's sardonic commentary.
We also have a strong European community in Australia.
Hence, we were invited to join in and sing. It was only natural and, when you think about it, the reason is quite logical.
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u/NoChanceRight Sep 17 '26
Celin Dion can now win for Canada instead of when she represented and won for Switzerland in 1988.
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u/selfinflatedforeskin Sep 17 '26
They let the bloody Israelis in，why not other non-European countries too？
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u/granoladeer Sep 17 '26
That's the whole strategy behind Canada's articulate plan to deceive everyone into thinking it's in a different continent... winning Eurovision and establishing new music standards for the world.
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u/Sol-Bad-Sol-Goode Sep 17 '26
We will win it.
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u/wilderblueseas Sep 17 '26
Send angine de poitrine
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u/MegaSmegmaSwagLord Sep 17 '26
I don’t think the people at Eurovision are ready for that lol
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u/Jellynorris Sep 17 '26
Pretty sure they announced that Canada will be in the 2027 competition 🤔
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u/Meet_the_Meat Sep 17 '26 edited Sep 17 '26
If you told someone in 2023 that soon Canada would join the EU to protect itself from the United States, you would have been treated like a flat earther
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u/EternalDeath Sep 17 '26
Harambes death split the timelines into a good and bad one, and we happen to be in the bad one so now we need the death of someone else to converge the timelines together again.
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u/ColeTrainHaze Sep 17 '26
the death of who?? please don’t say it’s Punch… i can’t handle that much heartbreak.
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u/Ijawlog Sep 17 '26
Canada is nowhere near to join the eu - I haven’t thought about it but I don’t think a full membership makes sense for either side.
This is just a new marketing name - an associate member has no definition, so let’s see what it will mean in the end.
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u/dat_oracle Sep 17 '26
it's symbolic for now. but I think it will have some benefits for both sides
step by step in the right direction
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u/Feral_Taylor_Fury Sep 17 '26
Oh yeah sure, because titular alliances mean NOTHING right?
Symbolic gestures between nations are absolutely meaningless right??
This is a historic moment. We don't yet know exactly what the outcome may be, but we can guess.
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u/ThruuLottleDats Sep 17 '26
They're not joining joining; merely given a best-friend armband with a lot of the perks but none of the hassle
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u/HauntingHarmony Sep 17 '26
They're not joining joining; merely given a best-friend armband with a lot of the perks but none of the hassle
This is so important to understand, yes you are right they arent joining the eu. But no, they wont be eu members-lite and not even a little bit.
What they are joining isent a eu-membership-lite. It is going to be (since the details arent public yet) something completely different than eu membership.
Since the fundamental truth of the eu is that it is, has to be, and will always be better to be a member than not. If that ever changes, the eu is done for. So its never changing.
There is never going to be a deal out there where britain say is going to go; "lol yea see, throwing it all away for this, is going to be worth it". It cant, because that is litterally going to unravel the union, and nobody sane should want that.
This is about creating NEW perks, with their own hassle. That then other countries also can join, say australia or korea. And that new "world order" can hopefully retain some of the old, and with a little luck rebuild something better than a world order that just benefited the americans at the rest of our cost.
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u/StudentforaLifetime Sep 17 '26
As an American, good for Canada
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u/dozerdigger Sep 17 '26
Yeah we really burned that bridge down but hey some billionaires were able to buy their 13th yacht thanks to Donnie!
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u/UpperApe Sep 17 '26 edited Sep 17 '26
As a Canadian...yeah.
Most people I know and talk to all agree that we will never forgive America in our lifetimes. Not just its leaders but its people. The betrayal cuts deeper than you know. You broke the greatest international brotherhood in human history.
Once, I get it. You were tricked and you were stupid, fine. Twice, just sitting around after Jan 6. What on earth are you doing? Why are you just waiting for something to happen when YOU'RE what's supposed to happen? But three times with voting him back in?
Nah. This doesn't end with Trump because Trump isn't the problem. America is the problem. There will just be another Trump. And another. And another. Because it will always be the same America.
The world has to build a new future now. And maybe the next generations of Americans will help us when they fight back.
But it won't be this generation. This one just wants to wait until things fix themselves.
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u/EggstaticAd8262 Sep 17 '26
Even if US elects Democratic president and they somehow revert things, they are always just one election from going rapist psycho bully on the world stage. No thanks
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u/GoldDiggingPriest Sep 17 '26
And reverting things is going to cost so much money, that they will hurt even more under a competent president trying to rebuild it all. And then just vote for an ever bigger psycho directly after.
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u/StudentforaLifetime Sep 17 '26
I’ve said the same thing myself. I’ll never forgive this country and it’s people. All the evidence was right there in front of us, and we elected him a second time.
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u/UpperApe Sep 17 '26
That wasn't even the most heartbreaking part.
It was watching everyone just sit around and do literally nothing after Jan 6. Just go to work, go on vacations, go out to eat, go to football games.
If Americans fired up protests city to city, coast to coast, week after week, nationwide...tens of millions demanding his arrest, the government would have had the political urgency, leverage, and capital to act. Instead, the government continued to fear the only side that DOES act: MAGA. And it's why MAGA runs the country.
A government that fears its people is a government that obeys its people. And the American government only fears MAGA. Because MAGA are the only political force outside of elections. The best the rest of America has managed is a weekend protest once or twice. A fucking weekend.
The only time America shows up is elections. And it's why all the consequences to Trump (and Musk's) actions were pushed back to AFTER the elections. Because it's the only leverage the left gives. Nobody gives a shit.
America isn't normal people stuck with crazy people. America is self-defeating people stuck with crazy people.
Trump isn't the president you need, but he's the president you deserve.
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u/kinkyonthe_loki69 Sep 17 '26
Couldnt have done it without your amazing president. Somehow he manages to fix every country but his own.
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u/MySocksSuck Sep 17 '26
He’s basically the reverse King Midas. Everything he touches turns into.. Well, not gold.
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u/Pleasant-Reading3634 Sep 17 '26
It's like seeing an ex-girlfriend with a different guy and knowing deep down she's better off with him.
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u/shottaker_22 Sep 17 '26
51st state my ass 😂
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u/taylorisntavril Sep 17 '26
We yuropeons (me dane) are overjoyed to welcome a long-time friend into a deeper mutually beneficial partnership. You canadians have always been the "scandinavians of the americas". Similar manners, values, cultures.
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u/WhisperingHammer Sep 17 '26
I have loved Canada forever. This is fantastic.
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u/RajStar23 Sep 17 '26
So… what does that mean for Canada/canadians?
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u/__O_o_______ Sep 17 '26
We didn’t just become an associate member. She just pushed the proposal. “Associate member” is a new thing and they’ll have to work with us to iron out the details.
I imagine integrating our economy even more with them, freer travel and more trade, etc. Basically take all our current connections and everything and strengthen and expand them.
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u/imahugemoron Sep 17 '26
I’m wondering if this happens, would Canadians have the same type of free movement as EU countries citizens do, which means EU citizens can live in any EU country, would Canadians ALSO be allowed to move freely to any EU country?
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u/Dycoth Sep 17 '26
I think it'll mainly be about free movement and even more free trade.
Lowering the requirements for visas, at least.
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u/bignides Sep 17 '26
The purpose is to increase trade and reduce barriers for that trade. By aligning regulations and standards, goods can be more easily exchanged. Canada is looking to expand non-American trade and reduce dependence. Europe wants access to Canadian resources so it’s a solid deal on both sides.
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u/PlasmaMatus Sep 17 '26
It's possible, at least the first step is easier visas for both sides and then easier work visas. Canada could also join the Erasmus+ program (Students can study in another country with grants and it still counts in their higher education credits score).
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u/imahugemoron Sep 17 '26
I’m an American and I plan on getting Canadian citizenship through ancestry since they loosened those requirements, I have a grandfather that was born in Canada, would be even cooler if once I get Canadian citizenship, I’d also be able to access EU countries through Canada
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u/JonatasA Sep 17 '26
I doubt it honestly, Europe itself has nations outside the Shengen (wow I've forgotten the name) zone and non members that are a part of it.
It took what, 30 years already for the treaty with Mercosul.
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u/TiredButEnthusiastic Sep 17 '26
Very unlikely - at least at first. There is no such thing as “associate member” - they just made it up. Now work will begin on defining it, but I strongly suspect it will focus mainly on trade, defence, research. Follow the money, as they say.
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u/rivalrobot Sep 17 '26
I really hope so. I lost my EU citizenship because of the Brexit shitshow. It would be lovely to have the freedom to live and work in the EU with my Canadian passport.
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u/Cold5512 Sep 17 '26
Nothing. It is not a legal term. It is not defined in the EU system. Right now, it seems like it would be a title of friendship. It'll probably just cause the EU and Canada to act more friendly to each other with trade and things.
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Sep 17 '26 edited 13d ago
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u/WRBNYC Sep 17 '26
Why did I have to scroll this far down to find a comment pointing out that this post is completely misleading. This category of "EU Associate Member" doesn't currently exist, Canada has not formally expressed a decision to go forward with the existing proposals, and a whole host of procedural and bureaucratic formalities would have to be undertaken before anything is finalized and official. Most importantly, an unanimous vote of approval from all 27 current EU members would be required. It will probably take years.
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u/smallsnowflurry Sep 17 '26
OP doesn't seem like the type to read articles based on their comments here lol
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u/Lintlee Sep 17 '26
Does this mean we Europeans can finally ride a moose? I'm just gonna assume it does. Yay!
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u/Skybodenose Sep 17 '26
My brother in Christ, I beg you do not ride a moose.
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u/Lintlee Sep 17 '26
I don't need this kind of negativity in my life now that I can legally ride and cuddle a moose.
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u/Skybodenose Sep 17 '26
Unless you are a flying squirrel, I do not forsee this ending well.
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u/wheres_my_ballot Sep 17 '26
You can totally cuddle a moose... though only very briefly, and once...
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u/Ganymede-3169 Sep 17 '26
As a Canadian, I'll even teach you how! And then we can all drink some maple syrup in celebration.
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u/Schrodingers_Fist Sep 17 '26
so does this mean as Canadians we also have that united passport system thing the EU countries share? like how a spanish citizen can freely work and travel in Italy, France, etc.
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u/PlasmaMatus Sep 17 '26
Not yet but it could happen. Norway, and Switzerland, have signed association agreements with the EU to be part of the Schengen Area.
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u/OkExtreme3195 Sep 17 '26
I would Hope so. In reverse of course, too, considering I am German and I learned English and French in my lifetime. And I would love to visit the place where both is spoken as easily as I can France or Scandinavia :)
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u/Ciubowski Sep 17 '26
Since this is a first, I wonder what are the implications now. Do we also hope for a "Schengen" area in the future?
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u/phido3000 Sep 17 '26
First you have to abandon all US standards and metrics
Measure in litres, km.
Also all your cars need to be to EU standards. ALl your brake lights and indicators are wrong.
All your food standards need to change, this will take several years, because you want to aligned with EU standards instead of the US ones you have been using.
its a long processes. You aren't in the EU yet.
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u/Dysmn Sep 17 '26
we do measure in litres and km. the only measurements done in imperial are for building houses basically.
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u/MGS-1992 Sep 17 '26
Formal plans and purchasing of all material is done in metric. Tradespeople just do things in imperial lol.
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u/icedteaandtacos Sep 17 '26
Not to be that guy, but your conception of Canada is very flawed and you don’t know anything about Canada if you don’t know we use the metric system and while our food standards probably aren’t as high as the EU, they are still waaayyyyy higher than America’s FDA.
A ton of American food isn’t allowed into Canada.
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u/Even-Confusion4211 Sep 17 '26
But what about my red fruit loops
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u/super_scary_ferry Sep 17 '26
Froot Loops in Canada are actually made with all natural dyes! I found this out as a Froot Loop lover who is allergic to yellow #5.
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u/Southsideclide Sep 17 '26
That red #5 is strictly forbidden, you'll have to settle for brown fruit loops!
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u/VectorPryde Sep 17 '26
Also all your cars need to be to EU standards
This would actually be a huge improvement. Right now we have essentially the same automotive selection as the United States. This means almost all vehicles sold here are oversized, over-priced and not very good. For example, the Honda Fit was very popular in Canadian cities, but when Americans stopped buying them, they stopped being sold in Canada too - but are still sold in Europe. We especially need EU oriented compact EVs for our cities instead of the oversized electric crossover SUVs designed for Americans.
All your food standards need to change, this will take several years, because you want to aligned with EU standards instead of the US ones you have been using.
While we have shared automotive standards with the US, we definitely do not have shared food standards. Ours are more strict than the US, but not quite as strict as Europe. One of the MAGA lobby's big complaints is that the American food industry faces regulatory barriers to dumping their crap on the Canadian market. It would definitely take time to get to the EU standard, but it's not as bad as you might think.
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u/MagizZziaN Sep 17 '26
As a Dutchie, nothing makes me happier then our Canadian brothers joining the union. We have not forgotten the sacrifice made during WW2!
For those who don’t know, the majority of soldier graves in our national memorial grave sites from WW2, are Canadian. They took the brunt of the attack on the Germans to liberate us from their oppression back then.
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u/ACBluto Sep 17 '26
4600+ Canadians in the three main War Cemeteries, and a little over 1000 more spread out elsewhere. The are more Canadians from WW2 buried in the Netherlands than in France, or Italy, or Germany. The only countries with more are Canada and the UK.
It's something we are proud of - it was one of the areas Canada led the way in the war, and for a country with a comparatively small population and economy, it was a big deal to stand on the same level with the top powers. Attached with the First Canadian Army was General Maczek, and the Polish 1st Armoured Division, which is an incredible and sad story on it's own. Thank goodness for the Dutch in helping taking care of him, because he was let down by both his own country and his allies.
Personally, I got to visit Amsterdam for the first time a couple years ago, and enjoyed it immensely. I'm planning on going back next year, and hopefully will be able to see a little more of the country as well.
Love from Canada!
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u/MagizZziaN Sep 17 '26
Today I learned about yet another total legend. And I am proud of my country in their treatment of him. He’s even buried in Breda with his fellow Polish veterans. Glad he got his recognition and apology before he passed.
I hope you have a great stay when you come to visit next year! Do hit me up if you need some recommendations on what to visit etc ;)
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u/Mr_Pookers Sep 17 '26
I'm Canadian, and it means a lot whenever a Dutch person personally expresses recognition like this. Much love.
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u/Mr_nudge89 Sep 17 '26
I hate to burst Canadians bubbles but the free movement/work as part of the eu is unlikely to be on the cards. An eu associate isn't a full member, it just deepens the bond meaning making trade easier. This is also a proposal, there's currently no such thing as an associate member right now, so even if this is voted and agreed upon, its going to take years before all the agreements are hammered out
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u/SELFINCRIMINAT1NG Sep 17 '26
it’s a good day for canada, therefore a good day for the world
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u/Mr_and_Mrs_Sazabi Sep 17 '26
Honest question. What does Canada have that EU residents want or need that they can't get from other nations at a better price? Considering any goods has to traverse the Atlantic Ocean and all the costs that come with that.
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u/buck_silver Sep 17 '26
Raw resources and food. Europe is a fraction the landmass of Canada, and much is heavily developed already. Canada is so vast its hard for Europeans to comprehend until they experience it first hand. We just had an in law visit from Europe, and they were shocked that we would drive an hour into the countryside just to go to work - and that it is considered "normal". He said driving an hour for him would place him in an entirely different country.
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u/Responsible-Comb6232 Sep 17 '26
Canada is a bit more than double the size of EU member countries in terms of land mass. However, only ~7% of Canada is arable active farmland. Up to 40% is commercial forestry. ~5-10% for mining & resource extraction.
The primary motivation is clearly not economic necessity. It is forming an alliance against the belligerent US leaders. By increasing the trade and political ties, they blunt the impact of US tariffs and other extortion tactics.
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u/PaperMoonShine Sep 17 '26
There is a monumental need for energy. Canada is 3rd in the world for the amount of Uranium deposits it has, but crucially it has the highest quality grade of Uranium. Its much cheaper for us to get it out of the ground in useful quantities.
Canada is also 9th in the world in LNG reserves. Something Canadians would gladly set up a trade alliance with europe for, if only to stick it to Russia and their war with Ukraine.
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u/RogueBromeliad Sep 17 '26
Interestingly enough, Canada was the second country in the world to build a nuclear reactor, after Fermi.
Canada has an incredible history with nuclear physics because of the Tubes Alloy project, which was parallel, and sometimes in tandem with the Manhattan project.
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u/CraigLake Sep 17 '26
Reminds me of a conversation I saw went on Reddit years ago. Someone in the UK said that they hardly ever saw their dad. Maybe once a year. Someone asked him why so frequently? He responded, he lives 45 minutes away.
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u/drivingthelittles Sep 17 '26
Damn, I’m in eastern Ontario and my closest Costco is 55 minutes away. I go once every 4-6 weeks, but in their defense I have to go for the cheap bagels.
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u/SkillsInPillsTrack2 Sep 17 '26
In return, Canada could gain valuable insights. Top secrets such as how to repair roads, healthcare management 101, how to implement efficient public transit infrastructure, the basics of tax reports, and what fair prices are for: Mobile plans, internet connections, airline across country, and train tickets.
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u/Babayagaletti Sep 17 '26
Not the point. The core principle behind the EU is that a union brings peace, stability and thus prosperity to the union. You don't have to be an economic powerhouse to join (or associate with) the union. You just have to agree to the principles. It's the direct result of WW2 with the thought that countries with deep social/economic/science/... ties don't start wars with each other.
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u/DobryVojakSvejk Sep 17 '26
It's not about extracting value from any one product category, it's about protecting a market that is legally quite well aligned with how eu countries work from becoming hostile, and vice versa. EU companies would rather operate and trade with countries with a functioning rule of law than in despotic failed states like the US, so losing Canada would be a considerable blow.
Also things like geopolitics play an important role.
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u/PuffyBlueClouds Sep 17 '26
Look at all of these normal adults dealing with economic issues intelligently and gracefully. Instead of that weird childish insecure pumpkin running the United States. Americans, vote better!
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u/0nlytom Sep 17 '26
Does this mean that other countries will have a pathway to become Associate Members too?
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u/healoush Sep 17 '26
This status was originally proposed as a way for Ukraine to join before full membership. So i guess we're gonna test it on Canada first.
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u/segomil Sep 17 '26
I think as we Canadians grow as a people, Europe is a far better influence than America.
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u/Igarlicbread Sep 17 '26
As Asian, I am happy with the news. Congratulations to the team Canada and team EU.
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u/NightChild39 Sep 17 '26
That's awesome. God I wish I wasn't American. I would love to be in an EU country
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