this post was submitted on 05 Apr 2025
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Europe

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It doesn't really make sense for Canada to be a member of the EU simply because Canada isn't in Europe. What we could do is grant Canada a deal similar to what Norway has now. We're one of four members of EFTA, which are part of the EEA without being EU members.

I must admit that my knowledge of Canada is shallow at best but my impression is that its overall values align well with western European democracies.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

This is exactly what I was thinking.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Actually, the EU has a whole bouquet of options for countries that want to cooperate with it. It can be trade agreements, free trade area, currency union, Schengen Area and so on. Norway, Switzerland and Turkey are examples of different degrees of associated status.

But be aware that any full EU membership would non-negotiable include the right of not only companies but also people to move freely in the common area - yes, that would mean that any EU citizen has the right to move to and live in Canada, and vice versa, as long as these persons can support themselves.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Discrimination against people that can't support themselves.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

Not really. It prevents countries from bearing the burden of maintaining other nation's unemployed, incapacitated, etc...

[–] [email protected] 42 points 3 weeks ago (7 children)

Nah we just need a fancy team name for the not-absolute-fuck-head countries.

I mean EU is Europe and I fucking love you guys but down here in Australia we can't just up and move the continent to Europe.

I don't think the name should be dependent on membership like BRICS or whatever because you don't want to have to rebrand when you kick someone out or let someone in.

I think it should include a word like collaborative because honestly, that's what it's about - we're better off working together.

It's also important to choose a name with a catchy acronym that isn't already taken.

Maybe Collaborative Union of Nice Terran States.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

You just answered yourself. Just call it CUNAFHC - Collaborative Union of Not-Absolute-Fuck-Head-Countries

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

But its about European values. Compassion, democracy, empathy, forgiveness and freedom

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

As a European, I don't think we can claim exclusive ownership of those concepts.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

I still would not call them European values, it comes of as values that exist in Europe and nowhere else. And I'd rather have compassion, democracy etc everywhere.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

How about just, free world. The rest are fascist dictatorships anyway.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

We're also democratic, we should call it the free democratic coalition of states.

Its not like there is any bad precedent in using names like this, like democratic republic of korea, or just referring to USA as "land of the free"...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Not true, there's also we poor countries who can't afford hanging around with the nice guys in the block

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Well who says you cant join up? An alliance like NATO doesnt have a price tag except for the 2% minimum defence limit, but it’s 2% subjective to your income. So you literally can afford that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

Yes but then you'd need NATO's approval. Remember how Erdogan put all sorts of 'but's to Finland and Sweden, countries with way more wealth (and more arguments to be included in NATO) than one like mine

[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 weeks ago

EBU EU whats the difference?

If Australia can be part of the Eurovision song contest so It can be of the EU. Also everybody already asume anyway that you are just Austria.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 weeks ago

A-tier shitpost πŸ‘

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

I like "Commonwealth".

But I re-read your comment and the initialism is a solid option.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

That would be confusing since then Canada would be part of two commonwealths.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah but commonwealth has connotations that don't apply.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

How about "The Commonsense"?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago

It would be nice, but we're not there yet.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

Let's go CUNTS!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

And California, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii please πŸ™πŸΌ

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

C.h.o.w? Nice.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

As much as I like Canada compared to the US, they are not European by any stretch of the imagination. I'd be for free trade and free movement as a beginning, but part of the European Union is a bit much.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (3 children)

It's not possible by current legislation aswell. You need to be on the European continent to join the EU.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 weeks ago

Fun fact: being located on the European continent is actually not a requirement. It is only mentioned that you need to be "European" which is open to interpretation (although, of course the continent comes to mind first). It basically says you have to have some relation towards being European, whether that is by politics, culture or by location (preferrably all of the above).

The best example would be Cyprus, which is actually located on the Asian continent but is culturally closer to Europe than Asia.

Canada feels like one of the more "European" leaning countries considering this. That said, I think the chance of them joining the EU in the close future admittedly feels pretty low. But you never know, maybe the EU evolves into something of a counter concept to whatever is happening in the USA right now.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

aswell

Not a word, my dude.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

This is English, anything can be a word, it just has to be used enough, and understood aswell. I think it's perfectly cromulent.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

So fetch. And way comma-spliced.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 weeks ago

No, technically you just need to be "European", which is never strictly defined anywhere. It was being considered that Algeria join after all, but it didn't happen because of the civil war (from my understanding of the situation). Canada is one of the most European-like non Europe countries, so it would kinda fit.

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