The former German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel has proposed offering Canada partial membership in the European Union. "Maybe not fully integrated like everyone else, but maybe partially," the Social Democrat told the Bremen-based newspaper Weser-Kurier in comments published on Saturday. Europe must resist US President Donald Trump's push to make Canada part of the United States, said Gabriel, who was foreign minister from 2017-18 and vice chancellor from 2013-18 under then chancellor Angela M
  • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.caEnglish
    40·
    1 month ago

    Cool. I’m not offended by that. 28th member sounds respecta. 51st state, not so much. 😂

  • stormdahl@lemmy.worldEnglish
    102·
    1 month ago

    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.

    • HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.orgEnglish
      7·
      1 month ago

      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.