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EU chief opens door for Canada to become 'associate member'

693 points · 905 comments · hackernj

  1. cronin101 · · focus · HN ↗
    Is this the path to a Bizarro World future where the Commonwealth realms become associate members of the EU to slowly unBrexit?

    I don't hate the idea

    1. ChrisRR · · focus · HN ↗
      I wouldn't be surprised if Scotland eventually leaves UK and joins the EU. Part of the reason they voted to stay in the UK was so that they could remain in the EU, and then brexit happened
      1. gizajob · · focus · HN ↗
        That can’t happen though because they’d be without a currency in the interim period and it’s also baked in to the EU’s treaties to make this difficult else places like Catalonia and the Basque Country would break away and join the EU, so there are barriers in place to make this less than quick or easy.
        1. rsynnott · · focus · HN ↗
          > because they’d be without a currency in the interim period

          From independence 1922 to 1979 (when we joined the EMS) Ireland just used a currency pegged to Sterling. An independent Scotland would presumably use a newly-created currency pegged to either Sterling or the Euro, on at least a temporary basis.

          Spain have dropped their threats to veto Scottish accession: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.theguardian.com&#x2F;politics&#x2F;2017&#x2F;apr&#x2F;02&#x2F;spain-drops-plan-to-impose-veto-if-scotland-tries-to-join-eu" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.theguardian.com&#x2F;politics&#x2F;2017&#x2F;apr&#x2F;02&#x2F;spain-drops...

          1. gizajob · · focus · HN ↗
            You really think contemporary Scots are going to be alright with that? If we’re saying that Brexit has been economically disastrous for Britain then it seems exiting the UK could be even worse. I’d support the Scots doing it though if they manage to vote for it in a third referendum.
            1. rsynnott · · focus · HN ↗
              I mean, if pegged against Sterling, they&#x27;d be about where they are now; Scotland has no meaningful control over Sterling currently.
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