To put “(future EU member)” on Canada but nothing on Turkey, who despite negotiations currently being frozen still are a member of both the EUCU and the CoE, is definitely a choice.
I’m not a fan of Erdogan and personally do not think that Turkey, nor Canada for that matter, should ever become EU members. However, given the point of the group does it seem pointless to make political statements that are completely off topic. Turkey is closer, not just geographically, to the EU than what Canada is; whether we like it or not.
As a Canadian it warms my heart to see the “future EU members” label but most days, when i am done with my morning coffee, i like things presented under a more realistic perspective.
EU should aim for a strong core with countries of “special interest” having partial membership benefits and treatment. GB, Canada, Ukraine, Turkey, Hungary(yes i know!) should all have this special interest status with a measure of integration and a measure of autonomy. Eventually add Australia if it makes mutual sense. Currently Canada can’t lower it standards to US regulations “void” and we will benefit from increased mobility of goods and people : with EU : we should set most regulation close enough to EU rules to be welcomed there. Build further affinity from increased commercial and military integration. Keep our own monetary policy: devaluation of our currency is a needed buffer sometimes.
I agree.
While I hope Hungary will change path after next year’s election and that both UK and Ukraine will be members within my lifetime (I’m still young, so there is hopefully time left) so do I agree with the main point. There should be a lot of opportunities to get closer and cooperate with countries outside of the EU, without membership, and Canada is already one of the closest countries to the EU and I want the EU and Canada to get as close as makes sense (and I’m certain there are many areas, including those you list, on which it makes sense to get closer).
To put “(future EU member)” on Canada but nothing on Turkey, who despite negotiations currently being frozen still are a member of both the EUCU and the CoE, is definitely a choice. I’m not a fan of Erdogan and personally do not think that Turkey, nor Canada for that matter, should ever become EU members. However, given the point of the group does it seem pointless to make political statements that are completely off topic. Turkey is closer, not just geographically, to the EU than what Canada is; whether we like it or not.
As a Canadian it warms my heart to see the “future EU members” label but most days, when i am done with my morning coffee, i like things presented under a more realistic perspective.
EU should aim for a strong core with countries of “special interest” having partial membership benefits and treatment. GB, Canada, Ukraine, Turkey, Hungary(yes i know!) should all have this special interest status with a measure of integration and a measure of autonomy. Eventually add Australia if it makes mutual sense. Currently Canada can’t lower it standards to US regulations “void” and we will benefit from increased mobility of goods and people : with EU : we should set most regulation close enough to EU rules to be welcomed there. Build further affinity from increased commercial and military integration. Keep our own monetary policy: devaluation of our currency is a needed buffer sometimes.
I agree. While I hope Hungary will change path after next year’s election and that both UK and Ukraine will be members within my lifetime (I’m still young, so there is hopefully time left) so do I agree with the main point. There should be a lot of opportunities to get closer and cooperate with countries outside of the EU, without membership, and Canada is already one of the closest countries to the EU and I want the EU and Canada to get as close as makes sense (and I’m certain there are many areas, including those you list, on which it makes sense to get closer).
It is all about the Armenian genocide