Thread

EU Floats Canada Becoming the Bloc's First 'Associate Member'

83 points · 170 comments · helsinkiandrew

bawolff · 1789547179 · focus · HN ↗
Canadian government seems to be denying this.
1. cromka · 1789547215 · focus · HN ↗
  Carney himself used these exact words couple days ago. This is coordinated.
  1. bawolff · 1789547461 · focus · HN ↗
    Do you have a citation for that? What was the exact quote?
    cromka · 1789547546 · focus · HN ↗
    BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com" rel="nofollow">https://www.bbc.com Carney eyes 'unique alliance' with EU as trade war with US intensifies
    WSJ <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/canada-alliance-eu-carney-276f1778" rel="nofollow">https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/canada-alliance-eu-carney-2... Mark Carney's Audacious Bid to Make Canada an 'Associate Member' of the EU
    That's the coordination here. Which may have misfired, too:
    <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/2e2e0c1e-51d6-49e2-9f4a-6ef793908b85?syn-25a6b1a6=1" rel="nofollow">https://www.ft.com/content/2e2e0c1e-51d6-49e2-9f4a-6ef793908...
    bawolff · 1789553605 · focus · HN ↗
    I agree that he has used the term "unique alliance", but he seems to dislike the term "associate member" and is denying it as it is playing poorly among some segments of canadian society (mostly right wing)
    frm88 · 1789555010 · focus · HN ↗
    Not exactly misfired, the title is somewhat clickbaity, 5 diplomats pointed to several aspects of difficulties with Ceta - nobody really "rebuffed" anything. The article is also somewhat hostile to the EU in general, is that a common notion on the FT?
    Anyways here's an archived link <a href="https://archive.is/RtfFb" rel="nofollow">https://archive.is/RtfFb
    Mashimo · 1789547587 · focus · HN ↗
    What I found:
    >>> "We're not looking to become a member of the European Union," Carney said Sunday evening on the red carpet of the Toronto International Film Festival. He attended the festival shortly after giving a speech to kick off the two-day Canada Investment Summit, which begins Monday.
    >>> "What we are looking — and will begin discussions for — [is] a unique alliance with the European Union. We share the same values, we have the same priorities and we have very complementary strengths."
    <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-european-union-eu-membership-poilievre-trump-tariffs-usa-9.7342604" rel="nofollow">https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-european-union-eu-me...
    bawolff · 1789553419 · focus · HN ↗
    Which is kind of my point. A unique alliance is not the same as becoming an associate member.
    ginko · 1789554027 · focus · HN ↗
    Being the EU's first associate member is by definition unique.
    tencentshill · 1789565311 · focus · HN ↗
    What do you define "associate member" as? Your definition is as good as Carneys.
    bawolff · 1789593506 · focus · HN ↗
    If the people in charge call it that, then its that. If the people in charge aren't using that terminology, then it isn't that.
2. beloch · 1789548311 · focus · HN ↗
  Carney has said Canada is not looking to become a "member" of the EU. Meanwhile, "associate member" is an entirely new thing that has yet to be defined. These aren't incompatible statements.
  It appears more accurate to say that Canada and the EU want to work together more closely than they do now. There will be something more than CETA. Perhaps more shared standards on food, etc.. Likely more military procurement cooperation. Perhaps something akin to NATO style military cooperation, just in case NATO implodes*. Perhaps there will be some cooperation in trade disputes as well.
  I suspect there is recognition that middle powers like the EU, Canada, Australia, etc. can do a better job of cooperating without everyone joining the EU and giving up an uncomfortable amount of sovereignty. Slightly more cooperation than currently exists may be all that's required for middle powers to do a better job of standing up to the supers.
  _________
  *NATO imploding is unlikely, but it's always good to have a fallback.

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